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NOTES    ON 

HEBREW    SYNTAX 

BY 

R.  D.WILSON. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2011  with  funding  from 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 


http://www.archive.org/details/notesonhebrewsynOOwils 


HEBREW  SYNTAX. 


THE  VERB. 


§  i. — The  Perfect. 
See  Driver,  "Use  of  the  Tenses  in  Hebrew," 
§§  1-20;  Davidson's  Syntax,  §§  39-41;  Harper,  "The 
Elements  of  Hebrew  Syntax,"  §§  17-19;  Gesenius' 
Grammar,  §  106;  Ewald's  Grammar,  §  135;  Mueller's 
Hebrew  Syntax,  §§  1-3.* 

*  The  references  at  the  head  of  the  sections  are  to  the  sections  of 
the  respective  grammars. 

The  Perfect  denotes  a  completed  action,  the  time 
of  which  can  be  determined  from  the  context  alone. 

I.  It  is  used  in  past  time,  as  the  equivalent  of  the 
English 

1.  "Past."     Gen.  1:1;  3:16. 

Rem. — Many  grammarians  divide  this  past  into 
(1)  the  Definite,  i.  e.,  made  definite  by  the  context, 
sometimes  called  Historical  Perfect  or  Aorist.  Deut. 
3:21;  and  (2)  the  Indefinite  (so  called  because  the 
time  of  the  completion  of  it  in  past  time  is  not  defined 
by  notes  of  time).     Gen.  32:21. 

2.  Perfect.     Gen.  4:10;  Is.  53:1. 

3.  Pluperfect.     Gen.  1:31;  2:3;  6:1;  19:28. 
Note. — Does  the  imperfect  with   Wau  conversive 

ever  correspond  to  the  English  pluperfect? 


Two  cases  arise :  first,  when  the  imperfect  with 
Wau  conversive  follows  a  Hebrew  perfect  used  in 
the  sense  of  an  English  pluperfect.  Here,  it  is  ad- 
mitted that  the  imperfect  has  the  sense  of  a  pluper- 
fect.    Gen.  13:4;  31:34;  26:18. 

Secondly,  when  the  imperfect  with  Wau  conver- 
sive does  not  follow  a  perfect  used  in  the  sense  of  an 
English  pluperfect.  Driver  denies  that  such  an  im- 
perfect can  ever  be  rendered  by  the  English  pluperfect ; 
but  it  is  commonly  so  in  the  King  James  version 
and  is  found  a  number  of  times  in  the  Latin  Vulgate, 
Luther's  version,  and  the  revised  English  version. 
In  the  verses  to  be  cited,  one  or  more  versions,  or 
reputable  grammarians  or  commentators,  have  trans- 
lated an  imperfect  by  a  pluperfect,  to  wit:  Gen  2:2, 
8,  19;  3:6;  12:1;  24:30,  61,  64,  65;  32:24;  37:5,  21; 
26:1,  18.  Ex.  2:15,  16,  17;  4:19,  21],  31;  11  :i;  12:1; 
14:21;  16:20;  18:1,  2;  32:1,  29;  33:5.  Lev.  9:22. 
Num.  1:48;  7:1.  Deut.  31:9.  Josh.  2:22;  24:12. 
Jud.  2:6;  1:8.  1  Sam.  14:24;  17:15;  33:6.  2  Sam. 
5:8.  1  Ki.  1:28;  7:13;  9:14;  13:12.  2  Ki.  20:8.  Is. 
8:3;  37:5;  38:21,  22;  39:1;  64:4.  Jer.  39:11.  Zech. 
7:2.  Jon.  1:17;  2:4.  Dan.  1:9.  1  Chron.  21:6. 
Neh.  2:9.     Ps.  78:23. 

II.  It  is  used  in  present  time,  as  the  equivalent  of 
the  English  "Present." 

1.  When  it  is  Stative  Perfect  (Greek  Second 
Perfect).     This  is  found  wih  verbs  denoting  a  men- 


tal  or  physical  state  or  condition.     Gen.  4:9;  32:11; 
27:9;  Num.  11 15. 

2.  To  express  actions  "meant  to  be  represented 
as  already  accomplished  in  the  conception  of  the 
speaker."  Gen.  14:22.  (Gk.  and  Latin.)  2  Sam. 
19  7  (8)  ;  Jer.  22  15 ;  2  Sam.  17  :n  ;  Deut.  8  :i9. 

3.  Perfect  of  experience.  "F^r  the  expression  of 
acknowledged  facts  of  experience."  Is.  1:3;  Ps.i  :i 
(  ?)  ;  10:3,  14;  15  :4;  9:11 ;  119:40;  Gen.  49:11. 

III.  It  is  used  in  future  time,  as 

1.  Perfect  of  Certainty,  i.  e.,  to  denote  future  acts, 
which  are  looked  upon  as  so  certain  of  occurring, 
that  they  are  expressed  as  if  already  done.  Gen. 
23:11;  3o:i3;Num.  17:27;  1  Sam.  2:16. 

2.  Perfect  of  Prophecy.     Num.  24:17;  Deut.  15:6. 
Gen.  15:18. 

3.  Future  Perfect.  Gen.  48:6;  Ex.  10:3;  16:28; 
Deut.  28:45. 

Rem.  1. — The  Perfect  may  express  such  modal 
actions,  as  could  be  expressed  in  English  by  means 
of  "have"  or  "had."  This  usage  is  especially  com- 
mon in  questions.  Gen.  21:7,  26:10  (Vulgate,  "pot- 
uit  coire")  ;  40:15;  43:10;  Deut.  5:23;  Num.  22:33. 

Rem.  2. — Does  the  Hebrew  Perfect,  like  that  in 
Arabic  and  Syriac,  ever  express  a  prayer  or  wish? 
i.  e.,  is  there  a  precative  Perfect?  (Driver  denies  it; 
Ewald,  Boettcher,  Davidson  and  Mueller  maintain 
it.)     Gen.    47:25    (Luther);    Ps.    4:2;    7:7;    10:16; 


18:47;  22:22;  31:6;  57:7;  71:3;  116:16;  141:6;  Job. 
21  :i6;  22:18;  Lam.  1 :2i ;  3:57-61. 

§  2. — The  Imperfect. 

Driver,    21-43;    Davidson,    42-45;    Harper,    22-24; 

Mueller,  4-7;  Ewald,  136;  Gesenius,  107. 

The  Imperfect  denotes  an  incompleted  action.  Hence 
it  is  generally  used  to  express  future,  contingent, 
frequentative,  or  incipient  actions,  the  context  hav- 
ing to  determine  which. 

1.  It  is  used  in  past  time,  1,  as  an  incipient;  in 
which  case,  it  is  equivalent  to 

(1).  An  Historical  Present  in  English,  denoting 
a  vivid  action,  "the  effect  of  which  is  to  present  in 
strong  relief  and  with  especial  lvieliness  the  features 
of  the  scenes  which  it  describes."  Ex.  15 :5,  6,  7,  15 ; 
Deut.  32  :io. 

(2).  The  Incipient  Aorist  in  Greek.  Gen.  2:10; 
37:7;  Ex.  8:20;  Nu.  23:7. 

2.  As  a  Frequentative.     Gen.  2  :6 ;  6  -.4. 

Rem. — After  certain  adverbs,  the  Imperfect  may- 
be used,  where  we  would  insert  "began  to,"  or  use 
the  simple  past.     Gen.  2:5;  Ex.  15:1;  Jos.  10:13. 

But  these  adverbs  may  all  be  employed  with  the 
perfect,  and  also  with  the  imperfect  denoting  the 
future.  Gen.  4:26;  24:15  (?);  Ex.  4:26;  15:15; 
Deut.  2:14;  9:21;  Jos.  21:22;  Ex.  9:30;  Is.  22:14; 
2  K.  2:9;  Ps.  73:17;  Prov.  12:18. 


II.  It  is  used  in  present  time,  I,  as  Incipient, 
especially  in  vivid  or  polite  discourse.  Gen.  24:31; 
32:30;  44:7;  37:15;  Ex.  3:3;  5:15;  15:12;  Gen.  19: 
19;  24:50;  31 :35;  Job.  10:18. 

Compare  for  use  of  perfect  when  a  superior  speaks 
to  an  inferior  Gen.  16 :8,  42  :j. 

2.  As  a  Frequentative. 

(1).  Definite,  i.  e.,  asserting  facts  of  definite  occur- 
rence. Gen.  10:9;  22:14;  29:22;  20:9  (?);  29:8; 
19:4;  29:33;  50:3;  Num.  21:27;  17:19- 

(2).  Indefinite,  i.  e.,  stating  that  an  action  is  liable 
to  occur.  Frequent  is  proverbial  expressions  or  com- 
parisons.   Ex.  33:11;  Num.  11:12;  Deut.  1:44. 

Rem.  1. — The  so-called  adjectival  Imperfect,  be- 
longs here,  e.  g.,  Gen.  49:27;  Deut.  32:11. 

Rem.  b. — Here  belongs  also  the  use  of  the  Imper- 
fect as  an  adverb.  Is.  64:2  (unexpectedly)  ;  Ps.  17:3; 
26:1. 

III.  It  is  used  in  future  time,  as 

1.  Future  Indicative. 

(1).  As  shown  by  the  general  context.  Gen.  12:12; 
16:12. 

(2).  As  shown  by  adverbial  notes  of  time.  Gen. 
29:8;  Deut.  6:20;  Gen.  40:13;  Ex.  8:19. 

2.  As  future  perfect  after  certain  particles.  Gen. 
29:8;  Nu.  20:17. 

3.  In  other  Moods ;  see  §  3. 


§  3- — Imperfect  as  Mood. 

Driver,  37-41,  44-65;  Davidson,  43  b,  c,  60-65; 
Harper,  62,  63;  Mueller,  7-1 1;  Ewald,  136  e,  f,  g, 
2233.-228,  235;  Ges.  107-109. 

Most  of  the  variations  for  mood  may  be  expressed 
by  the  Imperfect. 

I.  The  Imperative.     Gen.  3:14;  Ex.  10:26;  21:12. 
Rem.    1. — The   special   form,   called  Imperative,  is 

used  in  the  second  person  only,  is  always  positive, 
and  is  to  be  translated  by  "kill"  never  by  "thou  shalt 
kill."  The  negative  of  the  Imperative  is  always  ex- 
pressed by  the  Imperfect  Jussive  with  'al,  e.  g.,  Ex. 
23:1;  Deut.  9:26.  The  negative,  "Thou  shalt  not," 
is  expressed  by  means  of  the  Imperfect  with  lo',  e.  g., 
Ex.  23:2;  Deut.  23:16;  Gen.  2:17. 

Rem.  2. — For  the  theird  person  of  the  Imperative, 
the  Jussive  is  commonly  used,  and  sometimes  for  the 
second  person  also.     See  VI.  1  below. 

Note. — The  Imperative  expressed  in  English  by 
"shall,"  "should,"  "ought,"  "is  to,"  "has  to,"  or 
"must,"  may  be  classed  here,  e.  g.,  Gen.  3:14;  Ex. 
20:15;  21:12;  Num.  15:14;  Gen.  4:7;  20:9;  3:17; 
34:31;  43:25.  This  use  of  the  imperfect  is  found  in 
the  first  person  also.  Nnm.  23:8;  Ex.  10:26;  Vulg. 
quid  debeat  immolari. 

II.  The  Potential. 

1.  Possibility.     Gen.  41:15;  Ex.  4:14;  Num.  35  133. 


2.  Permission.     Gen.  2:16;  42:37;  Deut.  4:42. 
Rem. — In    the    latter    sense,    the    Jussive    may   be 
used.     See  VI.  4  below. 

III.  The  Optative.  A  wish,  prayer,  exhortation, 
or  determination,  is  commonly  expressed  by  the  Co- 
hortative  for  the  first  person,  and  by  the  Jussive 
(or  Imperative)  far  the  second  or  third  person.  See 
below  V.  2-4  and  VI.  3. 

Rem.  1. — The  Imperfect  Indicative  may  be  employ- 
ed in  this  sense.     Deut.  2:27;  Num.  20:17;  Gen.  12:3. 

Rem.  2. — For  the  Perfect  as  a  precative,  see  § 
1,  Rem.  2. 

IV.  The  Subjunctive. 

After  final  conjunctions,  the  Imperfect  is  used 
where,  in  many  languages,  a  peculiar  form  (usually 
called  by  grammarians  Subjunctive)  is  employed. 
Gen.  3  :22 ;  11:7;  27  -.4,  25  ;  43  7 ;  Ex.  2:7;  20 :20. 

Rem.  1. — Particularly  to  be  noted  is  the  use  of  the 
Imperative,  or  Jussive,  followed  by  Wau  conjunctive 
with  the  Imperfect  (usually  the  Cohortative,  or  Jus- 
sive, when  such  a  form  exists).  Wau  and  its  verb 
may  then  be  translated,  either  literally,  or  by  "that" 
with  the  Subjunctive.  (Compare  III,  above.) 
Gen.  27:4;  42:34;  Ex.  10:17;  Lev.  26:43;  Num.  25  4. 

Rem.  3. — Instead  of  the  Jussive  after  Wau,  the 
Imperative  is  sometimes  found  or  the  Perfect  with 
Wau  conversive.  (Driver,  65.)  Gen.  12:2;  20:7; 
20:7;  Ex.  3:10;  Deut.  13:11. 


Rem.  4. — Instead  of  a  final  conjunction  with  the 
impf.,  a  corresponding  preposition  with  the  infinitive 
construct  may  be  used.  See  §  5,  I  (4).)  Gen. 
3:11;  11:5;  Ex.  20:20;  Deut.  29:12. 

Rem.  5. — The  direct  subordinate  (Green's  Gram- 
mar, 269.  b. ;  Harper's  Syntax,  36 14)  is  treated  of  in 
§  7,  2. 

V.  The  Cohortative. 

The  Cohortative  is  used  to  express : 

1.  Determination,  or  intention.  Gen.  12:2;  22:5, 
18:30;  Num.  20:17;  22:6;  Ex.  23:29,  30. 

2.  Exhortation,  or  self-excitement.  Gen.  11:3;  Ex. 
1  :io. 

3.  Commands.  Deut.  33:7;  Nnm.  6:9;  or  prohibi- 
tion, Nu.  23:25;  Deut.  12:24. 

4.  Wish  or  request.  Gen.  33:14;  Deut.  12:20; 
Num.  20:17. 

5.  A  question.  Jer.  6:10;  Gen.  50:5;  Ex.  3:18; 
Ecc.  3  :22. 

6.  A  protasis  of  conditional  sentences.  Gen.  34:23; 
Job.  16 :6 ;  Nu.  35  :20 ;  Gen.  42 :37a,  44 :32. 

7.  An  apodosis.  Gen.  13:9;  27:41;  Num.  22:64; 
Deut.  32:26;  Gen.  42:37b. 

8.  It  is  used  after  Wau  conversive.  Gen.  32:6; 
41  :n. 

9.  It  is  used  after  Wau  conjunctive,  preceded  by  a 
Jussive,  Cohortative,  or  Imperative.  See  IV.  Rem. 
1.     Num.  22 :6 ;  2  K.  6 :28,  29. 


9 

io.  It  is  used  in  final  clauses.  Gen.  15:8;  27:19, 
31;  Ex.  5:8,  17;  Is.  5:19;  Ps.  9:15;  39:5;  Prov.  12: 
19;  Job.  7:17. 

Rem.  1. — The  cohortative  and  jussive  are  called  by 
the  common  name  of  voluntative. 

Forms  with  Nun  Epenthetic  may  be  treated  as 
cohortatives. 

Rem.  2. — Lomadh  He  and  Lomadh  Aleph  verbs 
have  no  special  ending  for  the  cohortative.  Gen. 
18:30;  50:5;  Deut.  32:3. 

.  .Rem.  3. — Sometimes,  either  the  ending  has  been 
dropped  or  the  indicative  used  in  its  place.  Gen  12 : 
3 ;  Jer.  40  4. 

Rem.  4. — All  forms  with  Nun  Epenthetic  may  be 
classed  with  the  cohortative.     See  examples  above.. 

VI.  The  Jussive.     See  Driver,  sees.  44-58  and  170- 

175- 
The  Jussive  is  used  : 

1.  In  commands  and  prohibitions.  Gen.  1:3522:12; 
24:8. 

2.  In  advice,  or  suggestion.     Gen.  41  -.33 ;  Ex.  8 :2s. 

3.  In  request,  or  wish.  Gen.  9:27;  31:49  44:33; 
Deut.  23  :8. 

4.  In  permission.  Deut.  20:5;  15:3. 

5.  In  a  protasis.  Ps.  104:20.     See  §  22,  II,  2. 

6.  In  an  apodosis.     Gen.  4:12.     See  §  22,  II,  2. 

7.  After  Wau  conversive.     Gen.  1 :3,  4  and  often. 

8.  After  Wau  conjunctive.     See  IV.  Rem.  1. 


10 

§  4- — The  Participle,  or  Verbal  Adjective. 
Driver,  135,  Davidson,  97-100;  Harper,  27;  Muel- 
ler, 13-15  and  121;  Green,  278;  Ges,  116. 

I.  It  is  used  as  an  adjective,  (1)  attributive.  Gen. 
2:9;  Ex.  4:19;  Lev.  11:49;  Deut.  26:5,  9;  (2)  predi- 
cate, Gen.  1 :2,  6,  (Ewald's  Hebrew  Grammar,  page 
123.)  Deut.  26  :5,  9. 

Rem. — The  participle  form  is  used  for  nomina 
agentis.     (Ewald,  page  199;  Davidson,  897.) 

II.  It  is  used  as  a  verb,  to  denote  continuous  action 
or  state. 

1.  In  past  time, 

(1)  Absolutely.     Gen.  2:10;  41:17;  25:28. 

(2)  With  notes  of  time.     Gen.  13:7;  Deut.  5:5. 

2.  In  present  time. 

(1)  Absolutely.     Gen.  4:10;  16:8;  32:12. 

(2)  With  notes  of  time.  Deut.  15:15;  17:11;  Lev. 
9:4  (Gk.  and  Vulg. ;  but  with  different  pointings), 
Gen.  41  :q. 

3.  In  future  time, 

(1)  Absolutely.     Gen.  19:14;  Deut.  4:22. 

(2)  With  notes  of  time.     Ex.  9:18;  Gen.  1 :6. 
Rem.  1. — As  a  verb  or  verbal  adjective,  the  participle 

governs  an  object  jsut  like  the  finite  verb.  Gen. 
2:13;  24:49;  Deut.  6:11;  20:1;  30:8.  As  a  noun  or 
adjective,  it  is  put  in  construction  with  the  following 
noun  or  pronoun  which  is  to  be  translated  as  the  ob- 
ject, if  the  participle  is  active,  and  as  the  subject,  if 


11 

the  participle  is  passive.  Gen.  19:14,  25;  20:3;  24:31  ; 
41:6;  Gen.  22:12;  4:2;  3:5.     (Ges.,  135.) 

Note. — The  prep,  employed  by  the  finite  verb  is 
sometimes  omitted  with  the  participle.     Deut.  33:11. 

Rem.  2. — The  personal  pronoun  is  frequently  omit- 
ted, where  we  would  expect  it,  as  the  subject  of  the 
participial  sentence,  (i.  e.,  of  a  nominal  sentence 
whose  predicate  is  a  participle.  Compare  sees.  20 :2 ; 
23:1,  1.)  Gen.  20:16;  24:30;  38:24.  (Ges.,  134,  2; 
Rem.  3.) 

Rem.  3 — The  participle  (1)  may  continue,  or  (2) 
be  continued  by  the  finite  verb,  both  of  which  (i.  e., 
the  participle  and  the  verb)  should  then  generally 
have  the  relative  "who''  inserted  before  them  in  trans- 
lation.    (Harper,  27,  5;  Ges.  n6x.) 

(1)  Prov.  6:19. 

(2)  Gen.  27:33;  35:3;  49:11;  Deut.  4:22. 

Rem.  4. — The  participle  is  used  to  express  (1)  the 
condition  of  the  object,  (2)  the  condition  of  the  sub- 
ject.    Compare  sees.  13:3;  21. 

(1)  Gen.  3  :8;  Ex.  2:11 ;  14:9;  33:10. 

(2)  Ex.  13:18;  Lev.  20:20.     (Driver,  Art.  161,  2.) 
Note. — Here  may  be  put  the  use  of  the  participle 

after  the  verb  "to  be"  to  express  the  idea  of  duration, 
or  continuance  in  a  state  or  condition.  Gen.  37  :2 ; 
4:17;  39:22;  Ex.  3:1. 

Rem.  5. — "When  the  participle  as  direct  predicate 
receives  the  article  it  becomes  coextensive  with  the 


12 

subject."  Deut.  3:21,  22;  Gen.  2:11,  Dav.  99.  Rem. 
3;  Driver  135. 

Rem.  6. — When  the  idea  of  the  participle  is  to  be 
negatived,  ayin  is  commonly  used,  but  occasionally 
/o'...Num.  35:23;  Deut.  28:61;  Gen.  41:8;  Ex.  5:16. 
But  more  commonly  the  finite  verb  is  used.  Gen. 
44:4;  Lev.  i;i7;  Deut.  21:1.  This  change  to  the 
finite  verb  is  necessary  when  the  negative  clause  is 
joined  to  the  participle  by  Wau,  or  when  it  is  equiva- 
lent to  the  English  past  participle  active.  Gen.  44:4; 
Lev.  1  -.17.     Driver  162;  Dav.  100  d. 

Rem.  7. — The  frequentative  action  of  the  impf. 
may  approximate  so  closely  the  continuous  action  of 
the  participle,  that  it  becomes  impossible  to  distin- 
guish them.  Ex.  13:15;  Lev.  11  '.47  (Impf.  with  neg- 
ative) ;  Num.  24  -.4. 

Rem.  8. — In  some  intransitive  verbs  such  as  "to 
come,"  "to  die,"  and  "to  fall,"  the  Hebrew  active 
participle  has  the  meanings  of  the  Latin  present,  per- 
fect and  future  participles,  or  of  the  English  com- 
plete, incomplete,  and  periphrasic  future.  Gen.  48 :2 ; 
32:14;  18:11;  20:3;  15:12;  Ex.  14:30;  Deut.  21:1; 
22:8. 

Rem.  9. — "Of  the  passive  participles,  the  participle 
Kal  always  corresponds  to  the  Latin  or  Greek  perfect 
participle  passive,  those  of  the  other  conjugations, 
especially  Niphal,  sometimes  to  a  Latin  gerundive 
(or  to  an  adjective  in  billis)"  Gesenius,   116.     Gen. 


13 


3:6;  Lev.  11:47;  Ex.  15:11;  31:18;  Deut.  28:61; 
2  Sam.  20:1 ;  Ps.  18:4. 

§  5. — The  Infinitive  Construct,  or  Verbal  Noun. 

Dav.  89-96;  Mueller  109-120;  Green  279-283;  Ew- 
ald  303-305;  Harper  29;  Ges.  114. 

The  so-called  Infinitive  Construct  is  really  a  verbal 
noun,  and  hence,  may  be  employed  either  as  a  verb 
or  as  a  noun.     As  a  noun,  it  may  be 

(1)  Subject.     Gen.  2:18;  29:19;  30:15;  Ex.  14:12. 

(2)  Object.     Num.  20:21;  22:13;  Gen.  8:10. 

(3)  Genitive.     Gen.  29:7;  2:4;  30:41. 

(4)  Used  with  prepositions.  Gen.  2:4;  14:17527: 
1;  39:i8;  Jer.  2:35.  In  this  case,  it  may  be  trans- 
lated with  the  conjunction  and  the  finite  verb,  and 
may  also  have  an  object  in  the  accusation.  Deut. 
i:37;  16:13. 

(5)  Accusative  of  specification.     Ex.  19:12. 
Rem.    I. — The   Infinitive   with  a   preposition   may, 

like  the  participle  (see  Art.  IV.,  Rem.  3),  continue 
or  be  continued  by  the  finite  verb.  Wherever  the 
Infinitive  (or  participle)  "asserts  something  indefi- 
nite or  undetermined — wherever,  therefore,  it  may 
be  resolved  into  whoever,  whenever,  if  ever,  etc. — we 
find  the  perfect  with  Wau  conversive  employed; 
where,  on  the  contrary,  the  Infinitive  (or  participle) 
asserts  an  actual  concrete  event,  we  find  the  follow- 


14 

ing  verbs  connected  with  it  by  the  Imperfect  and  Wau 
conversive;"  e.  g., 

(i)  Infinitive  followed  by  Imperfect  with  Wau 
conversive.  Gen.  39:18;  Lev.  16:1;  (without  Wau 
conversive.     Ex.  28:28). 

(2)  Infinitive  followed  by  Perfect  with  Wau  con- 
versive. Gen.  18:25;  Ex.  1:16;  33:16;  Deut.  4:42; 
30:16.  Imperfect  followed  by  Infinitive.  1  Sam.  8: 
11,  12. 

Rem.  2. — To  be  especially  noted  are  the  uses  of  the 
preposition  Lomadh  with  the  Infinitive.  (Driver^ 
202-207. ) 

1.  To  denote  the  gerund,  in  which  case  the  prepo- 
sition is  either  not  to  be  translated  at  all,  or  may  be 
translated  by  "in,"  "so  as  to,"  "in  respect  of,"  etc. 
Gen.  2:3;  3:22;  41:19;  18:25;  19:19;  29:26;  34:7; 
43:6. 

2.  To  continue  the  finite  verb,  generally  implying 
aim  or  purpose.  Ex.  32:29;  Lev.  10:10,  11.  Ewald 
351  c. 

3.  With  the  substantive  verb,  to  express  the  pur- 
pose or  the   destination.     Num.  8:11;   24:22;   Deut. 

4.  Sometimes,  with  or  without  the  substantive 
verb,  it  may  be  translated  by  the  periphrastic  future 
"was  on  the  point  of,"  "was  about  to  be,"  or  even  by 
"was  wont  to."  Gen.  15:12;  2  Chr.  26:5;  Is.  10:32; 
38 :20. 


15 

5.  After  yesh,  "there  is,"  'ayin,  "there  is  not,"  and 
lo,  "not,"  or  even  without  these  particles  to  express 
"it  is  possible,"  or  "it  is  not  possible."  2  Chr.  25:9; 
Esth.  4:2;  Ezra  9:15;  1  Chr.  5:1;  15:2;  2  Ki.  4:13; 
Judg.  1  :i9. 

6.  When  the  Infinitive  is  to  be  negatived,  Lomadh 
is  usually  followed  by  bilti.  Gen.  3:11;  Deut.  S'-3'f 
though  occasionally  it  is  preceded  by  lo'  or  'ayin.  Am. 
6:10;  Est.  4:2. 

II.  As  a  verb,  the  verbal  noun  may  be  either 

(1)  Past.     Deut.  9:23;  Gen.  39:18. 

(2)  Present.     Jer.  2  :35. 

(3)  Future.     Deut.  25:19;  Num.  18:30. 

Rem.  1. — The  object  of  the  Infinitnve  is  with  or 
without  'eth.  Gen.  2:4;  19:29;  41:39;  Num.  20:21; 
two  objects;  Deut.  6:24. 

Rem.  2. — When  the  verbal  noun  is  translated  into 
English  by  the  finite  verb,  the  subject  of  the  verb  is 
the  pronominal  suffix,  or  a  noun  with  which  the 
verbal  noun  (Infinitive)  is  in  construction.  Gen. 
2:4;  Ex.  17:1;  Gen.  3:5;  19:16. 

§   6. — The   Infinitive   Absolute. 

Dav.  84-88;  Green  279-283;  Mueller  103-108;  Ew- 
ald  280;  Harper  28;  Ges.  113. 
I.  As  noun  it  is  used  rarely  as 
(1)   Nominative.     Prov.  25  -.27. 


16 

(2)  Genitive.     Is.  14:23. 

(3)  Accusative.     Is.  42:24;  Gen.  21:16. 

(4)  Predicate.     Is.  32:17. 

II.  As  a  verb,  the  Infinitive  Absolute  may  be  used 
in  any  time,  past  (1  Sam.  2  :28)  ;  present  (Ex.  20:8)  ; 
future  (Is.  31 :5). 

Rem.  1. — As  substitute  for  the  finite  verb,  the  in- 
finitive may  be  used  either  at  the  beginning  of  a  dis- 
course, or  to  continue  one  which  has  been  begun  by  a 
finite  verb.  Deut.  14:21;  Num.  4:2;  Gen.  41:43; 
Lev.  25:14;  Ex.  8:11 ;  36:7  ( ?)  ;  Num.  30:3. 

Rem.  2. — The  Infiinitive  Absolute  may  be  used  for 
any  other  part  of  the  verb,  in  which  case,  it  takes 
the  government  of  the  part  for  which  it  stands  (Is. 
22:13;  7:15;  Dav.  84  c;  88)  e.  g. 

(1)  For  the  Perfect  (Ezek.  1:14),  with  Wau  con- 
versive,  Judg.  7:19. 

(2)  For  the  Imperfect  (Num.  15:35),  with  Wau 
conversive,  Gen.  41 :43 ;  for  the  Jussive,  Lev.  6 :7 ; 
Num.  6:5;  for  the  Cohortative,  Is.  22:13;  1  Ki.  22:30. 

(3)  For  the  Imperative,  Ex.  20:8;  Deut.  5:12. 

(4)  For  the  Participle,  Jer.  22:14. 

(5)  For  the  Infin.  Cons.,  often  to  denote  the  ob- 
ject of  a  transitive  verb;  or,  when  several  Infinitives 
follow  one  preposition,  the  first  only  is  in  the  Infini- 
tive construct  and  the  others  are  in  the  Infinitive 
absolute.     Ex.  32:6;  Is.  22:13;  42:24;  57:20;  58:6. 


17 


Rem.  3. — The  Infin.  Abs.,  may  be  used  for  any 
person  or  number,  e.  g.,  for  the  first,  Ecc.  8:9;  for 
the  second,  Deut.  14 .21 ;  2  Ki.  4 143 ;  for  the  third, 
Num.  15:35;  Is.  21  :S. 

Rem.  4. — The  Infin.  Abs.  in  immediate  connection 
with  the  corresponding  finite  verb  (or  participle,  Ex. 
12  :g);  (1)  when  placed  before  the  verb,  strengthens 
the  idea  of  the  verb;  (Davidson,  sec.  86  says  it  de- 
notes asseveration,  antithesis,  supposition,  conces- 
sion, or  question.  Occasionally,  such  word  as  indeed, 
surely,  forsooth,  of  course,  at  all,  etc.,  may  bring  out 
the  sense,  but  oftenest  the  kind  of  emphasis  is  best 
expressed  by  an  intonation  of  the  voice)  ;  (2)  when 
placed  after  the  verb,  is  either  intensive  (as  always 
with  the  Imv.),  or  denotes  the  continuance  of  the 
action  of  the  verb. 

(1)  Gen.  2:17;  24:5;  31 :3o;  Ex.  21 :5;  Deut.  7:26; 
13:10. 

(2)  Gen.  8:7;  31  :i5;  46:4;  Num.  11:15;  23:11. 
Note    i. — The   Infin.   Abs.   may  be   in  a   different 

stem  or  of  a  different  root  of  like  meaning  with  the 
verb  which  it  strengthens.  Gen  37:43;  46:4;  Lev. 
19:20;  Ex.  21  :i2,  20;  (Davidson  86  R.  2). 

Note  2. — An  adverbial  accusative  of  a  cognate 
noun  may  be  used  instead  of  the  Infinitive.  Num. 
31:2;  Hab.  3:9. 


§  7- — Co-ordination  and  Sub-ordination  of  Verbs. 

Ewald  285;  Davidson  51,  82,  85;  Gesenius  120; 
Harper  36;  Mueller,  30. 

1.  Two  verbs  may  be  co-ordinated  (i.  e.,  made  to 
agree  in  gender,  number,  person,  etc.).  The  follow- 
ing cases  are  to  be  noted : 

(1)  While  the  first  of  two  verbs  denotes  generally 
an  antecedent  action,  it  is  often  equivalent  merely  to 
an  English  adverb. 

a.  Without  Wau  connecting  the  verbs.  Gen  19 :22 ; 
27:43;  30:31;  Deut.  1  :S. 

b.  With  Wau  connecting  the  verbs.  Gen.  45:13; 
Deut.  31  :i2. 

(2)  The  second  verb  may  be  equivalent  to  an  ad- 
verb.    Gen.  32:1;  44:4;  Num.  24:25;  Is.  53:11. 

2.  The  object  or  purpose  of  the  action  of  a  verb 
may  be  expressed. 

(1)  By  the  verbal  noun. 

a.  By  the  Infinitive  absolute,  §  6,  I.  3  and  II.  2  (5). 

b.  Bv  the  Infinitive  construct  without  Lomadh, 
§  5  (2). 

c.  By  the  Infinitive  construct  with  Lomadh,  §  5, 
Rem.  2  (2). 

(2)  By  the  Participle.     Num.  16:27;  Ex.  26:5  b. 

(3)  By  direct  sub-ordination  of  a  finite  verb,  or  its 
equivalent. 

a.  Without  Wau. 


19 

Gen.  12:12;  Lev.  9:6;  Job.  32:22;  Ps.  9:21;  17:3; 
Is.  47:1 ;  Amos  5:12;  Hab.  3:16;  Lam.  4:14. 

b.  With  Wau.  Deut.  31:12;  Gen.  47:6;  Is.  1:19; 
Job.  23  :3 ;  Jos.  7  7. 

Rem. — A  clause  may  take  the  place  of  the  verb. 
See  sec.  21,  III.  4. 

§  8. — Gender  of  Nouns. 

Davidson  12-14;  Gesenius  122;  Harper  2;  Mueller 
62,  63. 

1.  The  gender  of  the  noun  is  denoted  (1)  by  the 
termination,  or  (2)  by  a  separate  word,  as  rachel  for 
ewe,  or  (3)  by  the  context,  i.  e.,  by  its  agreement 
with  feminine  adjectives  and  verbs.  By  the  last 
means  we  learn  that  nouns  belonging  to  the  following 
classes  are  nearly  always  feminine. 

(1)  Proper  names  of  countries.     Gen.  41:8. 

(2)  Proper  names  of  cities.     Gen.  14:2. 

(3)  Names  of  definite  places  or  spaces.  Is.  38:18; 
Gen.  1 :2 . 

(4)  Names  of  elements  and  forces  of  nature,  as 
fire,  wind,  etc.     Ex.  9 :23 ;  Gen.  1 :2. 

(5)  Members  of  the  body,  as  eye,  ear,  foot  (but 
mouth,  nose,  and  others  are  masculine).  Deut.  7:16; 
but  Gen.  45  :i2. 

(6)  Instruments  and  utensils  used  by  man,  as 
sword,  shoe,  etc.     Deut.  32:25;  29:4. 


20 

2.  Abstract  nouns,  collectives  and  nomina  unitatis 
are  generally  feminine.     Gen.  50:20;  1:26;  Ex.  15:1. 

3.  The  feminine  is  generally  employed  where  other 
languages  use  the  neuter.  Gen.  2:17;  42:7;  1  Sam. 
24:18. 

4.  The  syntactical  or  logical  gender  may  be  mascu- 
line when  the  grammatical  gender  is  feminine  and 
vice  versa.     Gen.  1:16;  23:4;  Deut.  27:6. 

5.  Some  nouns,  especially  names  of  animals,  are 
construed  sometimes  as  masculine  and  sometimes  as 
feminine.     Gen.  24 :6s >  32'-l&',  33 -l3',  Ex.  21  :t,7- 

§  g.- — Number  of  Nouns  and  Pronouns.     Ges.  124. 

1.  The  plural  is  used,  where  in  English  the  singu- 
lar is  mployed. 

(1)  To  denote  abstract  ideas.     Ges.  124. 

a.  Summing  up  conditions  or  qualities.  Gen.  19 : 
11 ;  44:20. 

b.  Intensifying  of  the  idea  of  the  stem.  Gen.  46 :2 
(Gk.  and  Latin)  ;  Gen.  43:14;  Deut.  32:20. 

c.  Summing  up  the  parts  of  an  action.  Gen.  50:3; 
Ex.  30:10;  25  :6. 

(2)  In  the  plural  of  majesty.  Gen.  1:1;  42:30; 
Ex.  21 :2Cj. 

(3)  In  certain  other  words  denoting  material,  ex- 
tension or  product.  Gen.  1:1,  2,  6;  49:4;  Lev.  13: 
47;  Ex.  29:2. 


21 

2.  Some  masculine  nouns  have  plural  in  oth,  and 
some  feminine  nouns  have  plurals  in  im.  Gen.  i  :i6; 
Deut.  27 :6. 

3.  In  the  pronoun,  there  is  frequently  found  a 
change  from  singular  to  plural,  and  vice  versa.  Is. 
1:23;  5:25;  Amos.  7:11;  Ps.  5:9;  10:62;  5:84;  6:8; 
Deut.  24  :g. 

4.  Many  nouns  are  singular  in  form  but  plural  in 
sense  and  may  have  verbs  and  adjectives  in  the  plu- 
ral.    See  sec.  10,  5. 

5.  On  the  pluralization  of  two  nouns  in  construc- 
tion.    See  sec.  12,  7. 

§  10. — Agreement  of  Verb,  Etc. 

Mueller,  113-118;  Ewald,  295,  316-319;  Davidson, 
108-116;  Green,  289-295;  Harper,  40;  Ges.  144-146. 

1.  The  masculine  of  the  verb  is  sometimes  employ- 
ed instead  of  the  feminine;  the  third  masculine  plu- 
ral of  the  Perfect  is  always  so  employed.  Gen.  7:11; 
Is.  57:8;  Jer.  3:5;  Ezekiel  23:49;  Joel  2:22;  Amos 
4:1. 

2.  (1)  "One,"  or  "they,"  indefinite  is  generally  ex- 
pressed by  the  third  person  of  the  verb.  Gen.  11  :g; 
16:14;  26:18;  29:2.  (Ges.  144:3;  Mueller,  123;  Da- 
vidson, 108.) 

Note. — Sometimes  the  second  person  is  indefinite. 
Gen.  10:19,  30;  13:10;  Is.  7:25. 


22 

(2)  The  impersonal  phrase  is  expressed  by  the 
participle  (masc.  less  common  fern.),  or  by  the  third 
person  singular  masculine  (occasionally  feminine)  of 
the  verb  active  or  passive.  Gen.  32:8;  21:12;  4:26; 
4:6;  1  Sam.  30:6;  Deut.  21:3;  Mai.  1:11;  Am.  4:7. 
(Mueller,  124;  Ges.  144:2.) 

3.  Sometimes  the  discourse  passes  over  from  one 
person  to  another.     Deut.  351:15,  17;  (Ges.  144,  p.) 

4.  A  predicate  (1)  preceding  the  subject  most  fre- 
quently stands  in  the  first  form  (i  e.,  masc.  sing.,  and, 
if  verb,  3d  person)  though  it  (2)  nearly  always 
agrees,  when  it  follows  the  subject,  even  though  the 
first  predicate  did  not  agree. 

(1)  Gen.  1:14;  47:3  (?);  12:16;  13:5;  30:43; 
32:6;  5:23;  39:5;  Deut.  21:3;  32:35;  but  Gen.  33:7; 
Num.  12:1. 

(2)  Gen.  1:2;  Ex.  4:31;  12:27.  (Mueller,  Art. 
133;  Ges.  145  7)  ;  but  Ex.  21  -.4. 

Rem. — The  3rd  masc.  pi.  of  the  Imperfect  is  some- 
times used  with  a  feminine  plural  or  collective. 
Gen.  30 :39 ;  Lev.  26  -.33. 

5.  Singular  nouns,  when  collective,  may  have  a  verb 
or  adjective  in  the  plural.  If  there  are  two  or  more 
predicates,  the  one  preceding  the  subject  may  be  in 
the  sing.,  and  the  one  or  more  following,  in  the 
plural.     Ex.  1:10,  20;  14:31;  33:4.     Davidson,  115. 


23 

Rem.  i. — When  the  collective  is  feminine  but  repre- 
sents masculine  persons,  the  predicate  may  be  in  the 
masculine  plural.     Gen.  48 :6. 

Rem.  2. — The  predicate,  however,  may  be  in  the 
singular,  even  though  the  subject  is  collective.  Gen. 
35:11;  Deut.  1:39;  Ex.  10:24;  14:10. 

Note. — Names  of  nations  are  construed 

(1).  With  the  masc.  sing.     Ex.  17:11;  Am.  1:11. 

(2).  With  the  masc.  plur.     2  Kings  6:9. 

(3).  With  the  fern.  sing,  (when  reference  is  to  the 
country,  or  the  people  is  treated  as  a  collective).  Is. 
7:2. 

6.  Plural  nouns,  especially  when  denoting  abstract 
ideas,  "and  names  of  animals  and  things,"  may  have 
a  verb  in  the  singular.  Is.  34:13;  59:12;  Jer.  49:24; 
Joel.  1:20;  Gen.  49:22;  Deut.  21  :y. 

7.  A  plural  of  excellence  takes  the  verb  or  adjec- 
tive in  the  singular;  Gen.  1:1;  Ex.  21:4,  29.  (Ges. 
145:3.)  Occasionally,  the  adjective  is  plural.  Deut. 
5:23;  Josh.  24:19. 

8.  Dual  nouns  take  verbs  in  the  plural.  Gen.  29 : 
17;  Ex.  17:12.     Compare  sec.  15,  1.  Rem.  3. 

9.  When  two  nouns  in  construction  are  the  subject 
of  a  sentence,  the  predicate  naturally  agrees  with  the 
first  of  the  two  nouns  (Gen.  2:12;  3:7)  ;  but  excep- 
tions occur  (1)  "when  the  governing  noun  involves 
a  statement  of  quantity,"  or  quality.  Ex.  15:4,  20; 
Num.    14:1;    (2)    occasionally   by    attraction,    when 


24 

special  emphasis  is  laid  on  the  second  noun.  Gen. 
4:10;  Lev.  13:9;  (but  Ges.  makes  "voice"  an  inter- 
jection) ;  or  when  the  second  is  the  principal  noun 
the  first  being  equivalent  to  an  adjective.  Ex.  15:20. 
§  12:6  (2). 

10.  When  two  or  more  subjects  are  connected  by 
"and,"  the  following  cases  arise : 

(1)  The  predicate,  when  it  precedes,  agrees  gen- 
erally with  the  first  subject.  Gen.  6:18;  Num.  12:1 
(but  not  so  Ps.  75:4;  1  Sam.  21 7;  Gen.  40:1)  ;  Gen. 
3:8;  77;  8:18;  24:61;  31:14;  337- 

(2)  If  the  discourse  is  continued  by  a  second  pred- 
icate, it  will  be  the  plural  and  will  be  generally  mas- 
culine, if  one  or  more  of  the  subjects  are  masculine. 
Gen.  21  :32 ;  24  :6i ;  but  33  7. 

(3)  When  the  predicate  follows  two  or  more  sub- 
jects, it  is  generally  plural,  and  if  one  of  the  subjects 
is  masculine,  the  predicate  also  is  masculine.  Gen. 
8:19,  22;  18:11 ;  but  see  Ex.  21  14. 

(4)  "When  the  subject  is  a  pronoun  and  a  noun, 
the  pronoun  must  be  expressed  whether  the  verb  be 
singular  or  plural."     Gen.  7:1;  14:15. 

ir.  The  plural  subject  is  sometimes  found  with  the 
singular  predicate,  "because  from  among  the  indi- 
viduals denoted  by  the  plural,  a  particular  one  is 
specially  in  view."  Gen.  27:29;  Ex.  31:14;  Num. 
24:9. 


25 

So  the  singular  pronoun  may  refer  to  a  plural  ante- 
cedent.     Deut.  21:10;  28:48. 

12.  The  verb  "to  be"  when  a  copula,  sometimes 
agrees  with  the  predicate  and  not  with  the  subject. 
Gen.  27:39. 

13.  Names  of  persons  take  adjectives  and  verbs  in 
agreement  with  the  gender  of  the  person,  not  of  the 
form.     Jon.  1:1;  Ruth  2:2. 

14.  After  the  passive  the  agent,  or  subject,  is  pre- 
ceded by  (a)  Min.  Gen.  9:11;  Lev.  26:43;  (b)  Lo- 
madh,  Gen.  25:21;  Lev.  26:23;  or  (c)  Beth,  Gen.  9:6; 
Num.  36:2.     Ges.  121:3. 

§  11. — The  Noun  Absolute. 
For  the  sake  of  emphasis,  a  noun  or  pronoun  is 
frequently  placed  before  a  sentence,  its  place  in  the 
sentence,  whether  as  subject  or  object,  being  taken 
by  a  pronominal  suffix  agreeing  with  it  in  gender, 
number  and  person.     (Driver,  197-199.) 

1.  Subject  placed  first.     Gen.  34:8;  Deut.  1  :3c 

2.  Object  placed  first. 

(1)  Gen.  21:13;  13:15. 

(2)  Suffix  with  preposition.     Lev.  7  :". 

3.  Genitive  placed  first.     Deut.  28 :54. 

Rem.  1. — The  noun  may  be  resumed  by  the  demon- 
strative pronoun,  which  is  then  equivalent  to  the 
copula.     Gen.  34:21. 

Rem.  2. — The  noun  absolute  may  be  limited  by  a 
relative  clause.     Gen.  26:15. 


26 

§   12. — The  Construct  State. 

Dav.  23-28;  Ges.  127-130. 

In  addition  to  the  common  uses  of  the  construct 
relation,  the  following  are  to  be  noted : 

1.  The  second  noun  may  denote  the  object  of  the 
state  or  action  denoted  by  the  first.  It  would  trans- 
late such  English  clauses  as  "about,"  "done  to,"  "con- 
cerning." Gen.  9:2;  18:20;  1:16;  Deut.  20:14  (Ges. 
128:2;  Harp.  8:1  b.)  More  commonly  the  second 
noun  denotes  the  subject  of  the  first.     Gen.  1 :2. 

2.  Numerals  from  two  to  ten  may  stand  in  the  con- 
struct before  the  substantive  which  they  number. 
Gen.  1:16;  2:25;  4:19;  5:8.  The  word  for  year  is 
sometimes  in  the  construct  before  the  numeral  where 
the  cardinal  is  used  for  the  ordinal.  Hag.  1:1.  Com- 
pare sec.  15  :6  (4). 

3.  A  noun  may  stand  in  construction  with  a  verbal 
sentence  following.  (Compare  Wright's  Arabic 
Grammar,  II  p.  119,  et  seq.)  Ex.  4:13;  6:28;  Gen. 
1:1;  Deut.  32:35;  Lev.  7:35. 

4.  An  adjective,  or  participle,  may  stand  in  con- 
struction with  a  noun  limiting  its  application.  Deut. 
9:6;  Ex.  4:10;  15:11.     Compare  sec.  16. 

5.  A  noun  may  be  in  construction  with  an  adjective, 
limiting  its  signification,  especially  an  adjective  de- 
noting "great,"  "small,"  "good,"  "bad,"  or  "full."  Is. 
22  :24 ;  Jer.  5  :28 ;  Amos.  6 :2. 


27 

6.  The  construct  state  is  frequently  employed  where 
we  use  an  adjective.  See  §  15:3  and  Ges.  128:2.  The 
qualifying  noun  may  be 

(1)  The  second  of  two  nouns.  Gen.  17:8;  34: 
30;  or 

(2)  Less  commonly  the  first.  Ex.  15:4;  Gen.  23: 
6;  Deut.  32:13,  41. 

7.  When  two  nouns  in  construction  are  to  be  plu- 
ralized,  three  cases  occur. 

(1)  The  first  only  is  put  in  the  plural. 

(2)  The  second  only. 

(3)  Both  are  put  in  the  plural.     1  Chron.  5:24. 

8.  The  following  facts  in  regard  to  two  nouns  in 
the  construct  or  appositional  relation  to  each  other 
may  be  noted. 

(1)  When  both  nouns  are  definite,  the  first  is  in 
the  construct  state  and  the  second  in  the  absolute 
state  with  the  article,  or  is  a  proper  noun.     Gen.  1 :2. 

Rem. — The  first  noun  may  be  put  in  the  absolute 
state  with  the  article  and  the  second  take  the  prepo- 
sition Lomadh  with  the  article.     Gen.  29  :g ;  47  -.4. 

(2)  When  both  are  indefinite,  the  first  is  in  the 
construct  state  and  the  second  is  in  the  absolute  state 
without  the  article,  or  takes  the  preposition  Lomadh 
without  the  article.     Gen.  9 :25. 

Rem. — The  second  is  sometimes  definite  in  Eng- 
lish and  the  first  indefinite,  when  both  are  indefinite 
in  Hebrew.     Gen.  25  :27. 


28 

(3)  When  the  first  is  indefinite  and  the  second 
definite,  the  first  is  in  the  absolute  state  without  the 
article  and  the  second  has  Lomadh  with  the  definite 
noun,  whether  made  definite  (i)  by  the  article.  Num. 
25:14;  or  (2)  by  construction.  Gen.  41:12,  or  (3) 
as  a  proper  noun.     Gen.  14:18. 

Rem. — Sometimes,  as  it  seems,  the  first  noun  is  in- 
definite when  the  second  noun  has  the  article  without 
Lomadh,  or  is  definite  by  construction  or  as  a  proper 
noun.     Lev.  14:34;  Deut.  22:19. 

(4)  When  the  first  noun  is  definite  and  the  second 
indefinite,  the  first  is  in  the  absolute  state  with  the 
article  and  the  second  follows  with  the  preposition 
Lomadh  without  the  article  or  is  in  apposition  with- 
out the  article,  and  is  equivalent  to  an  accusation  of 
specification.  Lev.  6:3;  Num.  16:22;  sees.  13:4  and 
16:1.     Ex.  28:39  (?). 

9.  Not  more  than  one  noun  in  the  construct  can  be 
used  before  the  same  genitive.  There  are  three  con- 
structions possible.     (Dav.  27  b.)     We  may  say 

(1)  The  sons  of  man  and  his  daughters.  Gen.  41 :8. 

(2)  The  sons  of  man  and  the  daughters.  Gen.  40:1. 

(3)  The  sons  and  the  daughters  belonging  to  (or 
which  belong  to)  man.    Gen.  40:5. 

10.  Conversely,  not  more  than  one  noun  in  the 
genitive  can  be  used  with  the  same  noun  in  the  con- 
struct state  (or  with  a  preposition),  except  where 
the  two  or  more  nouns  constitute  an  idea  which  in 


29 

other  language  is  expressed  by  one  word.  Gen.  14 : 
19 ;  Ex.  3  :8 ;  Num.  20 15  ;  31  154 ;  Deut.  7  :o  (  ?)  ;  8 :8 ; 
32  7,  19,  24 ;  Ps.  65  :6. 

11.  For  an  adjective  qualifying  a  noun  in  construc- 
tion, see  sec.  15:1,  Rem.  (5). 

12.  A  pronominal  suffix  may  refer  back  to  the 
second  of  two  nouns  in  construction.     Gen.  13:15. 

13.  The  second  noun  may  denote   (1)   the  species, 
(2)   the  name,    (3)   the  material,   (4)   the  quality,  or 
(5)  the  quantity  of  the  first.     (1)   Gen.  16:12;  23:4 
(2)   Gen.   15:18;  32:4;   Num.  28:6;    (3)    Gen.  3:21 

6:14;  (4)  Ex.  3:5;  Gen.  17:8;  Lev.  19:36;  Num.  28:6 
(5)  Number,  2  K.  17:6;  Deut.  26:5;  weight  1  Chron. 
21 :25 ;  measure  or  extent,  Ezek.  47  :3~S. 

§  13. — The  Accusative. 

Dav.  66:81;  Mueller  32:49;  Ewald  279-284.  300; 
Harper  30-35;  Green  284-288;  Ges.  117,  118. 

The  noun  (said  to  be  in  the  accusative,  after  the 
analogy  of  the  Arabic)  is  used  adverbially  to  denote 

1.  Place,  time,  motive,  measure,  or  mode  in 
which  the  act  takes  place,  etc.  Gen.  7:20;  13:9;  14:4; 
18:1;  Ex.  24:3;  Lev.  19:16;  Deut.  32:14;  Is.  7:25. 

2.  A  predicate  accusative  occurs  frequently  in  He- 
brew, i.  e.,  a  participle,  adjective,  or  noun,  which  is 
the  predicate  of  a  nominal  sentence  used  as  the  object 
of  the  verb.  Ex.  7:1;  Deut.  13:15;  28:7;  Is.  53:4. 
Driver  195. 


30 

Rem. — When  the  predicate  accusative  is  a  noun,  it 
denotes  (i)  the  material  or  parts  out  of  which  a 
thing  is  made,  or  (2)  the  product  or  divisions  into 
which  it  is  made.  It  is  used  after  verbs  of  making, 
putting,  uniting,  etc.,  and  after  verba  mentis.  (1) 
Gen.  27:6.  (2)  Gen.  28:18;  Deut.  1:15. 

3.  The  accusative  is  used  to  express  the  state  or 
condition  of  the  subject  or  object,  or  of  a  noun  in 
the  genitive.     Num.  7:89;  Gen.  3:8;  15:2;  37:35. 

Rem.  1. — This  accusative  is  used  after  verbe  de- 
noting "being,"  or  "coming  into  being,"  or  those  of  the 
opposite  meanings.  Gen.  24  -.42,  49 ;  45  14 ;  De.  13  -.4 ; 
Ex.  4:18;  Is.  33:10;  Jer.  22:30;  1  Sam.  3:2;  2  Sam. 
19:8;  Prov.  13:4;  Job.  35:15  (?)  Gk. 

Rem.  2. — The  accusative  of  condition  may  be  a 
participle  (Sec.  4  Rem.  4).  An  Imperfect,  also,  may 
be  used  to  express  condition.  (Ps.  17:3;  26:1;  Is. 
53:10)  ;  or  a  circumstantial  clause,  sec.  21 :8. 

4.  The  accusative  is  used  to  express  specification, 
(or  what  other  grammarians  call  "limitation,"  "restric- 
tion," or  "indirect  relation.")  Gen.  3:15;  37:21; 
41  :4c 

5.  Many  verbs  govern  two  accusatives,  where  we 
would  have  one  object  direct  and  the  other  after  a 
preposition.  (Ges.,  Art.  139.)  Gen.  2:7;  21:19;  27: 
37;  33  -5 ;  4i  :42 ;  Ex.  28  -.3 ;  29 19 ;  30  =25. 


31 


6.  Many  verbs  govern  a  noun  directly,  where  we 
would  employ  a  preposition  and  vice  versa.  Gen. 
27:45;  38:11;  Deut.  7:6;  Gen.  20  \6. 

7.  Where  the  active  has  two  accusatives,  the  pas- 
sive has  one.     Gen.  21:19;  48:11;  Ex.  1:7;  26:30. 

8.  The  accusative  is  sometimes  the  logical  subject 
of  the  passive.     Gen.  4:18;  17:5;  21:5. 

Rem.  1. — In  this  case  the  verb  need  not  agree  with 
the  noun  in  gender  or  number.     Gen.  27:42;  Num. 

32:5- 

Rem.  2. — After  a  passive,  the  cause  or  origin  may 
be  denoted  in  three  different  ways.  Gen.  9:6;  9:11; 
14:19.     See  §  10:14. 

9.  The  accusative,  when  a  pronoun  in  English,  is 
often  omitted  in  Hebrew.  Ex.  12:5;  32:20.  See 
sec.  17  :y.  This  is  true  occasionally  of  the  1st  and 
2nd  personal  pronoun.     1  K.  21 :20,  22. 

§   14. — The  Article. 

Davidson,  19 :22 ;  Harper.  4,  5 ;  Green,  248-251 ; 
Ewald,  277,  278;  Mueller,  65-69;  Ges.  126. 

1.  The  generic  article  is  used, 

(1)  To  denote  the  genus.     Gen.  2:7;  13:2. 

(2)  In  comparisons  or  proverbs.     Deut.  1 :44. 
((3)   With  nouns  of  material.     Gen.  2:11;  13:2. 
<4)   With  abstracts.     Gen.  19:11. 

2.  The  distinctive  article  is  used, 


32 

(i)  With  vocatives.    Deut.  32:1. 

(2)  With  individuals  which  are  the  only  ones  of 
their  class.     Gen.  1:1;  13:9;  19:23. 

(3)  With  individuals  singled  out.  Gen.  14:13; 
31:  21;  2:7. 

(4)  "With  an  understood  element  or  feature  in  the 
situation  or  circumstances."  Gen.  24:20;  22:6;  Ex. 
2:15. 

(5)  "In  narrative,  particularly,  persons  or  things 
appear  definite  to  the  imagination  of  the  speaker." 
Ex.  17:14;  21:20;  Num.  22:27;  Deut.  15:17. 

3.  The  relative  article  is  used, 

(1)  With  participles.  Gen.  2:11;  Ex.  1:1;  Num. 
32  :24. 

(2)  With  perfects.  Gen.  18:21;  27:33;  Ps.  66:9; 
1  Chron.  26:28;  29:17;  2  Chron.  29:36  (?);  Ezra 
10:14. 

(3)  With  adjectives  or  nouns.  Ex.  1:22;  Deut. 
12:8;  13:8;  15:19- 

4.  The  Hebrew  sometimes  has  the  article  with  the 
second  noun,  where  we  would  have  it  with  the  first 
and  make  a  compound  word.  1  Sam.  17:58;  Deut. 
11:10. 

5.  The  article  is  used  with  adjectives  and  demon- 
stratives, when  the  noun  is  definite.  Gen.  1  :i6;  15:1; 
Exceptions,  Gen.  2:2;  19:33. 

6.  The  article  sometimes  denotes  the  superlative. 
Gen.  42:13. 


33 

7.  The  article  is  omitted  where  we  have  it, 
(i)  With  certain  proper  names.     Ex.  13:17. 

(2)  Before  numbers  which  are  definite.  1  Sam. 
27:2;  30:9. 

(3)  Before  the  first  noun  in  construction.  Gen.  1 :6. 

(4)  In  Hebrew  poetry,  the  article  is  generally 
omitted  where  it  would  occur  in  prose.  Gen.  49:10; 
Ex.  15  :i,  6,  8,  9,  10. 

Rem.  1. — With  the  inseparable  preposition,  the 
article  occurs  usually  in  poetry,  when  it  would  occur 
in  prose.     Gen.  49:4;  Ex.  15:1,  6,  7,  10. 

Rem.  2. — In  a  few  cases  in  prose  the  article  is 
omitted  where  we  would  expect  to  find  it.  Deut.  15 : 
11;  Gen.  8:14. 

Rem.  3. — In  a  few  cases  the  Hebrew  word  for  "one" 
is  used  as  an  indefinite  article.     Ex.  16:33. 

§    15. — The   Adjective. 
Ges.,  132,  133;  Harper,  10;  Davidson,  30. 

1.  The  attributive  adjective  follows  its  noun  and 
agrees  with  it  in  gender,  number  and  definiteness. 
Gen.  1  :i6,  21. 

Rem. —  (1)  Adjectives  with  a  plural  noun  of  majesty 
or  excellence  may  be  in  the  singular  or  plural.  Is. 
19:4;  Ps.  7:10;  Deut.  5:23;  Josh.  24:19. 

(2)  Adjectives  with  collectives  may  be  singular 
or  plural.     Ex.  1:9;  33:5;  5:5;  Num.  11:34. 


34 

(3)  Adjectives  with  a  dual  substantive  are  put  in 
the  plural,  there  being  no  dual  of  the  adjective  in 
Hebrew.     Gen.  29:17;  Ex.  17:12.  Compare  sec.  10:8. 

(4)  Two  adjectives  limiting  the  same  noun  fre- 
quently follow  one  the  other  without  any  connecting 
particle.    Lev.  13:30;  Num.  19:2. 

Rem. — There  may  be,  also,  two  asyndetic  predi- 
cates.    Gen.  24:21. 

(5)  When  an  adjective  limits  one  of  two  nouns  in 
construction,  it  is  placed  after  them,  since  nouns  in 
construction  cannot  be  separated.  If  the  nouns  differ 
in  gender  or  number,  the  gender  or  number  of  the 
adjective  will  determine  the  noun  which  it  limits; 
but  when  the  two  nouns  are  of  the  same  gender  and 
number,  the  noun  which  the  adjective  limits  can  be 
determined  from  the  context  and  sense  alone,  if  at 
all.     Gen.  10:21;  Lev.  5:2;  Deut.  3:24;  7:15;  32:33. 

(6)  If  a  noun  have  a  pronominal  suffix,  the  noun 
will  be  definite  and  the  adjective  agreeing  with  it 
will  have  the  article.     Deut.  15  :9. 

2.  The  predicate  adjective  agrees  with  its  subject 
in  gender  and  number.  Gen.  3:6,  7.  See  sec.  23, 
I,  1. 

Rem.  1. — The  predicate  adjective  is  sometimes 
definite,  though  this  definiteness  does  not  depend  on 
the  definiteness  of  the  subject.    Ex.  9:27. 


35 

Rem.  2. — The  predicate  adjetcive  may  be  plural, 
when  the  subject  is  a  collective.     Neh.  9:6;   1  Sam. 

I3:i5. 

3.  Owing  to  the  paucity  of  adjectives  in  Hebrew, 
their  place  is  often  taken  by  nouns  or  verbs.  For 
nouns  thus  used  in  apposition,  see  §  16;  in  con- 
struction, see  §  12:6;  in  the  predicate,  see  §  16; 
for  Imperfect  used  as  adjective,  see  §  2,  II.  Rem. 
2;  and  §  4,  1 ;  for  clauses  used  as  adjective,  see  § 
18  and  20  c;  for  participle  thus  used,  see  §  4:1,  for 
article  with  verb  thus  used,  see  §  14:3. 

Rem. — Owing  to  the  paucity  of  adjectives,  a  noun 
is  frequently  joined  to  common  names  or  names 
which  denote  the  possessor,  origin,  or  derivation  of 
the  thing  designated  by  the  noun.  Gen.  37:19;  Ex. 
4:10;  Deut.  3:18;  Ges.  128  s;  Mueller  79  d. 

4.  The  preposition  min  denotes  the  comparative 
after  verbs  as  well  as  after  adjectives.  Gen.  26:16; 
32:11;  37:3;  Deut.  7:7. 

5.  The  superlative  may  be  denoted, 

(1)  By  an  adjective  made  definite  by  the  article. 
Gen.  42:13. 

(2)  By  an  adjective  made  definite  by  construction. 
Gen.  24:2  (Ges.  11  :i ;  Rem.  1.) 

(3)  In  other  ways.    Gen.  19:11;  Is.  6:3. 

Rem. — Equivalent  to  a  superlative  are  such  phrases 
as  "servant  of  servants,"  "king  of  kings"  (Har.  9:4). 
Gen.  9:25;  Num.  3:32. 


36 


6.  The  ordinals  and  the  cardinal  for  one  are  treat- 
ed as  adjectives;  but  from  two  to  ten,  the  cardinals 
are  treated  as  nouns,  and  the  thing  enumerated  is 
put  in  the  plural.     Four  cases  arise, 

(i)  The  numeral  precedes  and  the  noun  is  in 
apposition.     Gen.  29 134 ;  Deut.  19 :2. 

(2)  The  noun  precedes  and  the  numeral  is  in 
apposition.    Ex.  29:1;  Num.  7:17. 

(3)  The  numeral  precedes  in  construction  with 
the  definite  noun.     Deut.  10:4;  16:3. 

(4)  The  noun  precedes  in  construction  with  the 
numeral.  This  last  is  used  only  with  the  word  for 
year  and  when  the  numeral  is  used  as  an  ordinal. 
Hag.  1:1.  Compare  sec.  12:2. 

7.  Numerals  above  the  units  mostly  have  the  noun 
in  the  plural.  They  stand  in  apposition,  mostly  be- 
fore but  sometimes  after  the  noun.  Gen.  37  :g ;  Deut. 
1:23;  but  Gen.  32:16;  Ex.  15:27. 

Rem.  1. — Collectives  and  nouns  of  time,  measure 
and  weight,  are  in  the  singular.  Num.  4:17;  3:50; 
11  .-19;  18:16. 

Rem.  2. — Sometimes  nouns  stand  in  the  singular, 
because  the  numerals  belongs  to  a  substantive,  which 
had  been  omitted.    Gen.  37  :28;  Ex.  27:11. 

8.  When  a  noun  is  definite,  the  expression  is  defi- 
nite, the  numeral  being  considered  definite  of  itself. 
Gen.  18 :28 ;  Deut.  9 :2$. 


37 


§  16. — The  Noun  in  Apposition  and  as  Predicate. 
Ges.  131 ;  Davidson  29. 

A  second  noun  is  often  used  for  specification  or 
explanation  of  a  preceding  noun,  showing  its  species, 
name,  material,  quality,  or  quantity.  In  every  such 
case,  the  second  noun  may  be  predicated  of  the  first. 

1.  Noun  denoting  species, 

(1)  In  apposition.     Gen.  1:12;  17:14;  Deut.  22:23. 

(2)  As  predicate.     Ex.  9:31. 

2.  Noun  denoting  name, 

(1)  In  apposition.     Num.  34 :2. 

(2)  As  predicate.     Gen.  2:14. 

3.  Noun  denoting  material, 

(1)  In  apposition.     Gen.  6:17;  Ex.  39:17. 

(2)  As  predicate.  Gen.  7:6;  Ps.  23:5;  45:9;  De. 
28 :23. 

4.  Noun  denoting  quality, 

(1)  In  apposition.  Gen.  49:4;  Ex.  24:5;  30:2; 
Ps.  120:3;  Ps.  88:19. 

(2)  As  predicate.  Gen.  1:2;  11  :i;  14:10;  Lev. 
27:33;  Ps.  19:10;  35:6;  109:4;  110:3. 

5.  Noun  denoting  quantity, 

(1)  In  apposition.  Ex.  21:32  (weight);  Num. 
9:20  (  number)  ;  Ex.  30:24  (measure). 

(2)  As  predicate.  Gen.  23:15  (weight);  Deut. 
33:6  (number);  Ex.  25:17  (measure). 


38 

Rem.  I. — The  quantity  of  a  thing  is  frequently  de- 
noted by  the  first  noun,  in  which  case  the  second 
may  be  looked  upon  as  an  accusative  of  limitation, 
or  specification.  (Compare  the  Arabic,  Wright, 
Vol.  II,  §  44,  e,  Rems.  b  and  c.)  Gen.  5:6;  18:6; 
23:16. 

Rem.  2. — For  numbers  from  two  to  ten,  see  §  12,  1. 
12,   1. 

..Rem.  3. — Permutation  is  a  species  of  apposition, 
which  "defines  the  preceding  substantive,  or  pronoun, 
in  order  to  prevent  any  possible  misunderstanding." 
Gen.  0:4;  Ex.  7:11;  2:6;  35:5;  Lev.  13:59;  Num. 
32  -.33 ;  Deut.  2  :26 ;  1:35;  7  :g  (  ?). 

Rem.  4. — The  predicate  is  sometimes  introduced 
by  the  so-called  Beth  essential.  Hos.  13  :g;  Ex.  18:4; 
Ps.  54:6. 

§  17. — The  Personal  and  Demonstrative  Pronouns 
Ges.  135,  136;  Dav.  1-6. 

1.  Ze,  Zo  and  Zu  are  sometimes  used, 

(1)  As  a  relative.     Ex.  13:8;  15:13. 

(2)  As  an  adverb.     Gen.  27:20,  21,  36;  Num.  13:17. 

2.  The  personal  pronoun  is  sometimes  used  to  em- 
phasize the  pronominal  suffix. 

(1)  Possessive.     Num.  14:32. 

(2)  Objective.     Gen.  4:26;  27:34. 


39 

3.  The  pronominal  suffix  is  sometimes  an  indirect 
object  or  an  objective  genitive.  Gen.  16:5;  Ex.  20: 
20 ;  Deut.  25  -.7. 

4.  There  is  in  Hebrew  a  so-called  "ethical  dative," 
which  can  but  rarely  be  expressed  in  English.  Gen. 
21  :i6;  27:43;  22:5;  Deut.  2:13;  1  7,  13,  40;  5:27. 

5.  The  masculine  pronoun  is  sometimes  used  when 
the  noun  to  which  it  refers  is  feminine.  Gen.  26:15; 
31:9;  32;  16;  41:23. 

6.  When  two  nouns  are  in  construction,  the  pro- 
nominal suffix  is  put  with  the  second,  even  when  it 
belongs  to  the  first.     Gen.  42:35;  "Lev.  20:3. 

Rem. — The  objective  pronominal  suffix  sometimes 
refers  back  to  the  second  of  two  nouns  in  construc- 
tion.    Gen.  13:15. 

7.  The  accusative  of  the  personal  pronoun  is  not 
seldom  omitted,  especially  after  verbs  of  saying,  giv- 
ing and  taking.     Gen.  9:22;    18:7;  33:11.     See  sec. 

I3:9- 

8.  The  pronominal  suffix  is  often  used  pleonastic- 
ally,  for  the  sake  of  emphasis.     Gen.  2:19;  Ex.  2:6. 

9.  The  demonstrative  pronoun  is  treated  like  an 
adjective.  Deut.  3:24.  But  owing  to  its  definite 
character,  the  article  is  sometimes  omitted  when  the 
noun  which  it  limits  is  definite.  Gen.  19 :32 ;  24 :8. 
When  the  demonstrative  and  an  adjective  limit  the 
same  substantive,  the  order  is  noun,  adjective,  demon- 
strative.    Deut.  1 135. 


40 

10.  There  is  often  found  a  change  from  singular  to 
plural  and  vice  versa.     See  sec.  9  13. 

11.  When  a  new  noun  is  added  as  a  subject  addi- 
tional to  the  subject  involved  in  the  verb,  or  pro- 
nominal suffix,  or  to  a  substantive  subject  after  some 
interval,  the  first  subject  is  repeated  in  its  appropriate 
personal  pronoun  for  the  sake  of  contrast  with  the 
second  subject.  Deut.  2:32;  3:1;  5:14;  6:2;  12:7; 
12:18;  Ewald  339  b. 

§  18. — The  Relative. 

Ewald  331-335;  Dav.  9,  10,  142,  144;  Harper  13,  46; 
Mueller  155-160;  Green  300-305;  Ges.  138,  155. 

1.  The  relative  particle  may  denote  relation  simply, 
"the  more  distinct  reference  to  the  antecedent  being 
denoted  by  the  use  of  a  special  personal  pronoun  (or 
adverb),  which  is,  as  a  rule,  separated  from  the  rela- 
tive by  another  member  of  the  sentence."  Gen.  1 :2i ; 
13:3;  20:13;  Deut.  8:9. 

2.  When  the  connection  with  what  precedes  is  so 
clear,  that  the  pronoun,  or  adverb,  may  be  dispensed 
with,  it  is  frequently  left  out  (1)  when  the  omitted 
pronoun  would  be  the  object  in  a  verbal  sentence. 
Deut.  13:7;  Gen.  2:8;  6:7;  12:1 ;  and  (2)  it  is  always 
omitted  "when  the  relative  sentence  contains  the  rel- 
ative in  the  nominative  and  at  the  same  time  has  a 


41 

finite  verb,  since  the  latter  contains  in  itself  the  pro- 
noun of  the  person  in  question."  Mueller,  157.  Gen. 
15  7;  19:5. 

(2)  The  relative,  also,  may  be  omitted  when  the 
antecedent  is  indefinite.  Num.  24:6;  Deut.  32:11,  17; 
Gen.  15:13;  Ex.  15:17- 

(3)  Even  after  a  definite  antecedent  the  relative 
may  be  omitted  when  the  retrospective  pronoun  fol- 
lows a  preposition  or  a  noun  in  the  construct.  Ex. 
18:20;  Jer.  5:15. 

3.  The  relative  particle  may  contain  in  itself  both 
antecedent  and  relative,  i.  e.,  may  mean  "he  who," 
"him  who,"  etc.  Gen.  7:23;  38:10;  41:25;  43:15; 
44:9;  49:1. 

Rem. — Even  in  the  sense  noted  in  three,  the  rela- 
tive may  be  omitted.    Ex.  4:13;  Num.  23:8. 

4.  With  nouns  denoting  time  or  place  the  relative 
is  frequently  equivalent  to  "when,"  "where,"  "whence," 
"whither,"  etc.    Gen.  3  =23 ;  13 :3 ;  45 :6 ;  Deut.  4  :io. 

§    19. — Interrogative   Sentences. 

Dav.  121-126;  Ewald  324-326;  Harper  12:2,  42; 
Mueller  93,  143-146;  Green  298;  Ges.  137,  150. 

1.  Questions  are  frequently  asked  without  an  inter- 
rogative particle.  Gen.  3:1;  18:12;  27:24;  Ex.  8:22 
("yes"  expected). 


42 

2.  The  particle  He  is  used  with  any  kind  of  ques- 
tion, direct  or  indirect,  whatever  answer  is  expected. 
Gen.  8:8;  29:5,  6. 

Rem.  1. — He  may  be  translated  by  "is  it?"  Gen. 
27:36;  compare  Gen.  3:1. 

Rem.  2. — He  followed  by  lo'  expects  the  answer 
"yes."  Gen.  4:7;  Ex.  4:11.  He  followed  by  ayin  is 
used  with  participles,  or  "when  the  existence  of  the 
subject  is  questioned."  Jud.  14:3;  1  K.  22:7;  2  K. 
3:11;  Jer.  41:7;  2  Chr.  18:6. 

He  followed  by  yesh  leaves  the  answer  in  doubt. 
Gen.  44:19;  Jud.  4:20;  Gen.  24:23;  Ex.  17:7;  Num. 
13 :20. 

Rem.  3. — 'Im  or  w'im  introduces  the  second  mem- 
ber of  the  double  question.  Gen.  17:17;  37:32.  It 
may  introduce  an  indirect  question.    2  Ki.  1 :2. 

3.  The  indirect  question  does  not  differ  in  form 
from  the  direct.     Gen.  8:8;  21:26;  24:21. 

4.  The  answer  "no"  is  generally  expressed  by  lo'; 
the  answer  "yes,"  by  repeating  the  word  empha- 
sized in  the  question.  (Comp.  in  N.  T.,  "thou  has 
said.")  Gen.  19:2;  29:,  6;  24:58. 

§  20. — Nominal  and  Verbal  Sentences. 

Ges.  140-143;  Davidson  103-106;  Ewald  297-299; 
Driver  160  b. 

1.  A  verbal  sentence  is  one  in  which  there  is  a 
verb  preceding  the  subject.    Gen.  1:1. 


43 

2.  A  nominal  sentence  is  one  in  which  the  predicate 
is  a  noun,  adjective,  participle,  or  anything  other 
than  the  perfect,  or  imperfect,  or  imperative,  of  the 
verb.  Gen.  2:14;  2:4;  2:10;  2:9  (?);  2:11;  2:12; 
2:18;  3:6;  37- 

3.  A  compound  nominal  sentence  is  one  which  the 
principal  subject  of  discourse  is  placed  first  and  in 
which  the  predicate  is  (1)  a  verbal  or  (2)  a  nominal 
sentence.  (1)  Gen.  9:2,6;  (2)  Gen.  34:23;  Ps.  18: 
31.     Its  peculiar  uses  may  be  stated  as  follows: 

(1)  It  may  emphasize  a  contrast  between  two  sub- 
jects, 

(a)  Both  of  which  subjects  may  be  in  compound 
nominal  sentences.  Gen.  3:12,  13,  15;  13:12;  15:15, 
16,  17 ;  19 :23. 

(b)  The  first  of  the  two  subjects  may  be  in  a  ver- 
bal sentence,  the  second  in  a  compound  nominal  sen- 
tence.    Gen.  4 :3,  4 ;  4 :20,  22. 

(c)  The  contrast  may  be  implied  in  the  context, 
rather  than  expressed.     Gen.  6:8;  33:3. 

(2)  It  may  introduce  a  new  subject — new,  and 
hence  contrasted  in  a  measure  with  that  which  pre- 
cedes.   Gen.  3:1;  13:14;  16:1;  19:1;  21  :i. 

(3)  It  may  describe  a  condition,  past,  existing,  or 
yet  to  be,  of  some  person  o  thing  just  mentioned  in 
the  course  of  the  narrative.  Gen.  1:2;  2:6;  3:1; 
7:19;  8:22;  15:12;  16:12;  18:18;  19:19. 


44 

(4)  It  serves  to  recall  events  which  had  happened 
before  the  present  point  in  the  narrative  had  been 
reached.  Gen.  3:13;  8:5;  14:3,  12;  20:4,  5;  24:62; 
31:19;  32:13. 

Rem. — Much  of  the  vividness  and  beauty  of  He- 
brew poetry  arises  from  the  use  of  the  compound 
nominal  sentence.  Comp.  Gen.  2:5;  4:23;  49:19; 
Ex.  15  :4,  5,  6,  14,  18,  19,  and  see  Isa.  35,  and  almost 
every  chapter  in  the  poetical  books. 

§  21. — Substantive,  Adjective  and  Adverbial 

Sentences. 

Ges.  140-167;  Dav.  102-151. 

I.  Sentences  which  take  the  place  of  a  noun  as  sub- 
ject, object,  genitive,  appositive,  predicate,  etc.,  are 
called  substantive  sentences.  Dav.  146;  Mueller  129, 
161,  162 ;  Ewald  336  a. 

1.  Subject  sentences  are  such  as  are  logically  sub- 
ject of  the  principal  predicate.    They  are, 

(1)  Introduced  by  ki  and  asher.  Deut.  6:25;  2 
Sam.  18:3;  Ecc.  5:4;  Ruth  2:22;  or  (2)  by  the  In- 
finitive construct  with  or  without  Lomadh.  Jer.  40:4; 
Gen.  2:18;  or  (3)  the  sentence  may  be  a  simple  nom- 
inal or  verbal  sentence.     2  Sam.  14:32;  Deut.  30:4. 

2.  Object  sentences  are  such  as  are  logically  object 
of  the  pincipal  verb. 

(1)  They  may  be  introduced  by  ki,  or  asher.  Gen. 
3:11;  6:5;  8:11;  Deut.  1:31;  9:7;  Ex.  11:7. 


45 

(2)  They  may  be  introduced  by  an  Infinitive  con- 
struct with  Lomadh.    2  Sam.  3:13;  Ecc.  4:17. 

(3)  Especially  after  verbs  of  saying  and  knowing, 
they  may  consist  of  a  simple  nominal  or  verbal  sen- 
tence (1)  without  Wau,  (2)  with  Wau.  Gen.  30:27; 
47:6;  Num.  14:21;  9:2;  Gen.  12:12,  13;  20:2,  13; 
43:7;  Ps.  9:21;  Am.  5:12;  Is.  48:8;  Zech.  8:23;  Job 
19 :25. 

3.  A  whole  sentence  may  be  in  the  genitive  after  a 
noun  in  the  construct.     See  §  12 :3. 

4.  A  sentence  may  be  in  apposition.  Deut.  32 :6 ; 
15,  17,  20. 

5.  A  sentence  may  be  a  predicate  of  a  compound 
nominal  sentence.     See  §  20 :3 ;  Mueller  129. 

6.  A  sentence  may  be  equivalent  to  an  accusative 
of  condition.     Gen.  31 :40. 

II.  Sentences  which  take  the  place  of  an  adjective. 
They  are  commonly  called  relative  sentences.  See 
§  18  and  §  14:3,  and  §  4;  Rems.  3  and  5. 

III.  Sentences  which  take  the  place  of  an  adverb 
or  adverbial  accusative  of  time,  cause,  motive,  man- 
ner or  comparison,  or  which  define  the  result  or  limi- 
tation of  the  actions  of  the  verb  or  describe  the  cir- 
cumstances or  conditions  under  which  they  occur. 
Compare  §  13  :i. 

1.  Temporal  clauses  may 'be  expressed, 
(1)   By  a  conjunction  with  a  finite  verb.     Gen.  2:5; 
24 :22 ;  38 :9 ;  39  :5  ;  44  .24 ;  Deut.  3  :20 ;  4 141 ;  24  -.4. 


46 

(2)  By  a  preposition  with  the  Infinitive  construct. 
Gen.  39:18;  45:1.  (Harper  47:5,  Muellel  164  c; 
Davidson  145.) 

(3)  By  a  sentence  with  or  without  Wau.  Gen  7  :6; 
1  Sam.  2:13. 

2.  Causal  clauses  may  be  expressed, 

(1)  By  a  causal  conjunction  with  the  finite  verb. 
Gen.  8:9;  30:18;  Num.  11:20;  Deut.  1:36;  31:17. 

(2)  By  a  preposition  with  the  Infinitive  construct. 
Amos.  1  :3;  5:11. 

(3)  By  the  conjunction  Wau.  Gen.  24:56;  Ex. 
15:2,  8:  23:9.  (Muellen64  d;  Ewald  353  a;  David- 
son 147.) 

3.  A  clause  of  purpose  or  result  may  be  expressed, 

(1)  By  a  conjunction  with  a  finite  verb.  Gen.  3: 
22;  11  7;  13  :i6;  40:15;  Deut.  4:1,  10;  28:27. 

(2)  By  a  preposition  with  the  Infinitive  construct. 
Gen.  4:15;  38:9. 

(3)  By  the  conjunction  Wau  after  an  Imv.  etc. 
(§  3,  IV,  V.)  Gen.  24:14;  29:21.  (Mueller  164; 
Davidson  148;  Harper  47:4.) 

4.  A  clause  of  consequence,  or  a  consecutive  clause, 
may  be  introduced, 

(1)  By  the  conjunction  ki  or  asher  with  the  finite 
verb.     Num.  16:11;  Deut.  28:35;  Gen.  13:16;  22:14. 

(2)  Often  by  means  of  the  so-called  Wau  of 
sequence.  Ex.  10:5;  Num.  23:19;  Is.  53:2;  Hos. 
14:10.     Davidson  150;  Mueller  164  a;  Harper  47:4. 


47 

(3)  Often  by  Wau  conversive  to  express  a  logical 
consequence  of  that  which  immediately  precedes. 
Gen.  39:2;  12:19;  31:27;  Ex.  21:35. 

5.  A  clause  of  comparison  or  manner  may  be  ex- 
pressed, 

(1)  By  ka'  asher  in  the  first  clause  and  ken  in  the 
second.     Gen.  18:5;  41:13. 

Rem. — One  or  both  of  the  conjunctions  may  be 
omitted.     Is.  55:9;  62:5;  Ps.  48:6. 

(2)  By  a  preposition  with  the  Infinitive  construct. 
Ps.  48:11.     Davidson  151;  Ewald  359-362. 

(3)  By  the  conjunction  Wau,  especially  in  pro- 
verbs.    Prov.   11:16;  26:14. 

6.  An  optative  clause  may  be  expressed, 

(1)  By  lu  or  'im  with  the  Perfect,  Imperfect  or 
Participle.     Gen.  17:18;  Num.  14:2;  Ps.  81:14. 

(2)  By  mi  or  mi  yitten.     Ex.  16:3;  Num.  11  -.4. 

(3)  By  a  nominal  sentence  with  or  without  a  Par- 
ticiple as  predicate.     Gen.  3:14;  14:19;  27:13;  43:23. 

(4)  By  the  imperfect  alone.  Sec.  3,  III.  David- 
son 133-135;  Harper  43. 

7.  A  concessive  clause  may  be  expressed, 

(1)  By  the  conjunction  'im  with  the  finite  verb. 
1  Sam.  15:17;  Is.  53:9;  (Ges.  160  c.)  See  Urwick 
and  Martini  on  Is.  52:13-53.) 

(2)  By  conjunction  Wau.  Gen.  20:3;  by  gam 
with  or  without  ft*.  Is.  1:15;  Ecc.  4:14;  Is.  49:15; 
Jer.  36:25. 


48 

(3)  By  the  preposition  'al  followed  by  the  Infini- 
tive construct.  Job.  10:7;  16:17;  Is.  53:9.  Mueller 
164  e. 

8.  The  circumstantial  or  descriptive  clause  "is  on£ 
which  qualifies  the  main  action  by  assigning  the  con- 
comitant conditions  under  which  it  took  place." 
(Comp.  §  13,  3:  and  §  4  II.  Rem.  4).  It  corres- 
ponds to  the  accusative  of  condition.     It  may  be : 

1.  A  nominal  sentence. 

( 1 )  Without  connective.     Gen.  12 :8 ;  Deut.  5  14. 

(2)  With  Wau.     Gen.  18:12;  Deut.  28:26. 

2.  Verbal  sentence. 

(1)  Without  connective.  Lev.  1:17;  Gen.  44:4; 
Deut.  21 : 1. 

(2)  With  Wau.  Lev.  5:8;  Ps.  44:18;  Job.  9:5. 
Compare  sec.  4,  Rem.  6. 

3.  A  compound  nominal  sentence, 

(1)  Without  connective.     Num.  14:3;  Gen.  15:17. 

(2)  With  connective.     Gen.  18:18;  24:56. 

Rem.  1. — In  English,  these  circumstantial  clauses 
may  often  be  rendered  by  clauses  beginning  with 
"if,"  "when,"  "although,"  "as,"  "since,"  "seeing  that," 
"after,"  having,"  "being,"  etc.  (Comp.  Gen.  Abs.,  in 
Greek)  ;  or  may  be  put  in  parenthesis. 

Rem.  2. — Circumstantial  clauses  may  be  introduced 
by  prepositions  with  the  verbal  noun  or  adjective. 
Gen.  2:4;  12:14;  38:29;  39:18;  40:10;  Num.  11  :i. 


49 

Rem.  3. — The  circumstantial  clause  may  precede 
the  principal  clause.  (Driver,  Art.  165.)  Gen.  24: 
15;  27:30;  42:35- 

Rem.  . — For  further  light  on  the  circumstantial 
clause,  see  Davidson  137-141;  Mueller  151-154; 
Harper  45;  Ewald  341;  Driver  156-169;  Green  309; 
and  Gesenius  156. 

§  22. — Conditional  Sentences. 

Driver  136-155;  Davidson  129-131 ;  Gesenius  159; 
Ewald  355-358;  Harper  48;  Green  306-308;  Mueller 
165-168. 

Of  conditional,  or  hypothetical,  sentences,  the  fol- 
lowing cases  arise : 

I. 

Where  the  hypothetical  particle  is  expressed. 

1.  a.  Protasis,  perfect;  apodosis,  perfect.  Gen.  31: 
42;  43:10;  Num.  22:33.  Prov.  9:12  (Stative  per- 
fects). 

b.  Protasis,  perfect;  apodosis,  imperfect  plus  Wau 
conversive.  Ps.  106:23  (apodosis  precedes);  Job 
8:4  (?);  Is.  48:18. 

2.  (1)  Protasis,  imperfect;  apodosis,  imperfect. 
Gen.  13:16;  18:28;  42:37  (apodosis  first)  ;  Ex.  8:22; 
20:25  a;  40:37;  Num.  22:18. 

(2)  Protasis,  imperfect;  apodosis,  perfect  plus 
Wau  conversive.     Gen.  18:26;  24:8,  41;  31:8. 


50 

(3)  Protasis,  imperfect;  apodosis,  a  voluntative 
or  imperative  (a)  with  Wau  conjunctive.  Gen.  13: 
9;  1  Sam.  20:21;  (b)  without  Wau.  Deut.  32:26, 
27 ;  Gen.  31 150. 

(4)  Protasis,  imperfect;  apodosis,  a  perfect  of 
certainty.     Num.  32  :23. 

(5)  Protasis,  imperfect;  apodosis,  a  nominal  sen- 
tence.    Gen.  4  7 ;  31 :5c 

Rem. — A  second  verb  in  the  protasis  will  be  in 
the  perfect  with  Wau  conversive.    Deut.  12:20;  13:2. 

3.  (1)  a.  Protasis,  perfect;  apodosis,  imperfect. 
"If  I  had  seen  him,  I  would  tell  him."  Deut.  32:29; 
2  Ki.  5:13. 

Rem.  1. — A  second  verb  in  the  protasis  will  be  in 
the  imperfect  with  Wau  conversive.     Ps.  44:21. 

Rem.  2. — The  apodosis  may  have  the  perfect  with 
Wau  conversive.     Num.  21  :g. 

b.  Protasis,  perfect;  apodosis,  imperfect.  "I  have 
see  him,  I  will  tell  him."     Num.  30 :6. 

c.  Protasis,  perfect;  apodosis,  imperfect.  "If  I 
shall  have  seen  him,  I  will  tell  him."  Gen.  47:6; 
Deut.  32  -.4. 

Rem. — In  b  and  c,  a  second  verb  in  the  protasis  will 
have  the  imperfect  with  Wau  conversive.     Num.  5  :27. 

(2)  Protasis,  perfect;  apodosis,  perfect  plus  Wau 
conversive.  Gen.  43  :g ;  Num.  5  :20,  21 ;  Job  31  :g 
(Jussive)  ;  Gen.  18 :3  (Jussive)  ;  Num.  35  :22-24. 


51 

Rem. — In  (2),  a  second  verb  in  the  protasis  will  be 
in   the   perfect   with    Wau   conversive.     Gen.   43  :g ; 

iKi.7:4(?)- 

(3)  Protasis,  perfect;  apodosis,  imperative.  Gen. 
50:4;  47:16  (apodosis  precedes). 

(4)  Protasis,  perfect ;  apodosis,  a  nominal  sentence. 
Prov.  24:14. 

4.  (1)  Protasis,  imperfect ;  apodosis,  perfect.  "If  I 
shall  see  him,  he  hath  told  me."  Num.  16:29;  32: 
23 ;  1  Sam.  6  :g ;  1  Ki.  22 .28. 

(2)  Protasis,  imperfect;  apodosis,  imperfect  plus 
Wau  conversive.     Ps.  59:16  (?). 

5.  a.  Protasis,  a  nominal  clause;  apodosis,  imper- 
fect.    Jud.  11:9;  2  Sam.  18:12;  Lev.  3:1. 

b.  Protasis,  a  nominal  clause ;  apodosis,  imperative. 
Jud.  9:15;  Gen.  24:49;  20:7;  Ex.  32:32. 

Rem. — The  apodosis  with  "behold"  may  be  classed 
here.     Ex.  8:17;  9:2. 

c.  Protasis,  a  nominal  clause;  apodosis,  a  volunta- 
tive.    2  Sam.  12:8;  Gen.  43:5  (?). 

d.  Protasis,  a  nominal  clause;  apodosis,  perfect 
plus  Wau  conversive.    Deut.  5  :22 ;  Gen.  38  :g. 

e.  Protasis,  a  nominal  clause;  apodosis,  a  perfect. 
Hos.  12:12  (Vulgate). 

f.  Protasis,  a  nominal  sentence ;  apodosis,  a  nominal 
sentence.     Gen.  27:46;  30:1;  25:22. 


52 

GENERAL  REMARKS. 

i.  (i)  Sometimes  the  apodosis  is  suppressed  in 
whole  or  in  part.  Gen.  30:27;  38:17;  Ex.  32:32; 
Gen.  4:24. 

(2)  Sometimes,  the  protasis  is  to  be  supplemented 
from  the  context.     Gen.  13  :o ;  24 149. 

2.  A  protasis  is  frequently  introduced  by  a  tem- 
poral or  other  particle.  Ex.  21:36;  Lev.  4:22;  25: 
20;  Deut.  11:27;  14:24;  Num.  14:16. 

3.  When  lu  introduces  the  protasis,  it  indicates 
that  in  the  view  of  the  speaker,  or  writer,  the  condi- 
tion has  not  been  fulfilled.     Deut.  32:29;  Gen.  50:15. 

4.  The  Infinitive  construct  with  a  preposition  may 
form  the  protasis  of  a  conditional  sentence,  the  apo- 
dosis being 

(1)  An  imperfect.     Ex.  34:34. 

(2)  A  jussive.     Deut.  32:8. 

(3)  A  perfect  with  Wau.     Gen.  44:30;  Deut.  16:6. 

II. 

By  simple  juxtaposition,  without  the  aid  of  hypo- 
thetical particles,  almost  every  possible  combination 
of  verbal,  or  nominal  sentence,  in  protasis  and  apo- 
dosis, may  be  found  in  Hebrew.  In  all  cases,  it  is 
the  part  of  the  reader  to  seek  to  give  to  each  form  of 
expression  an  appropriate  meaning. 

The  following  cases  arise : 

1.  a.  Protasis,  perfect;  apodosis,  perfect.  This 
kind  of  conditional  sentence  represent  the  condition 


53 

as  fulfilled,  and  the  consequence  as  an  accomplished 
fact.  Prov.  18:22;  24:10;  25:4  (?);  25:16;  26:12; 
29 :20. 

b.  Protasis,  perfect;  apodosis,  Imperfect  with  Wau 
conversive.  Ex.  9:21;  20:25;  Prov.  11:2;  23:13  b; 
29:11. 

c.  Protasis,  perfect;  apodosis,  Imperfect.  Job.  19: 
4;  23:10;  7:20;  21:31;  Num.  12:14  (Interrogative 
sentence).  Ex.  21:36  (perfect  in  protasis  to  be 
translated  as  "may  have"  or  "shall  have."  It  is  fol- 
lowed in  the  protasis  by  an  imperfect). 

d.  Protasis,  perfect;  apodosis,  Imperative.  Prov. 
25:16. 

e.  Protasis,  perfect ;  apodosis,  a  nominal  sentence. 
Prov.  26:12;  29:20;  Lev.  15:3. 

f.  Protasis,  imperfect  with  Wau  conversive ;  apo- 
Josis,  a  nominal  sentence.     Ps.  139:11. 

2.  a.  Protasis,  imperfect;  apodosis,  imperfect.  Jos. 
22:18  b;  Neh.  1:8. 

b.  Protasis,  jussive;  apodosis,  jussive.  Ps.  104: 
20;  146:4  (?)  ;  Job.  22:28;  11  :iy,  Num.  22:6  (?). 

c.  Protasis,  jussive;  apodosis,  imperative.  Gen. 
20:7;  Job  15:17;  Ps.  4S:i2  (?). 

d.  Protasis,  imperative;  apodosis,  jussive.  Ex. 
7:9;  18:19;  Prov.  3  7;  3:9;  20:22;  Gen.  30:28; 
34:12. 

e.  Protasis,  imperative ;  apodosis,  imperative.  Gen. 
42:18;  Prov.  3:3;  20:13;  Job  40:32. 


54 

f.  Protasis,  perfect  plus  Wau  conversive ;  apodosis 
perfect  plus  Wau  conversive.  Gen.  37:13;  42:38; 
44:22,  29;  Ex.  4:14;  12:13;  16:21  b;33:io 534:35  (?). 

g.  Protasis,  imperfect;  apodosis,  perfect  plus  Wau 
conversive.     Ex.  33:5;  Gen.  47:25  (?);  Deut.  25:3. 

Rem. — Equivalent  to  this  is  the  relative  in  the  pro- 
tasis with    thelmperfect.    Jud.  1  :i2. 

h.  Protasis,  imperfect;  apodosis,  perfect.  Is.  26 
10;  Hos.  8:12. 

i.  Protasis,  imperfect  cohortative;  apodosis  per- 
fect.    Ps.  do:6. 

j.  Protasis,  imperfect  cohortative;  apodosis  im- 
perfect plus  Wau  conversive.     Job  19:18. 

k.  Protasis,  perfect  plus  Wau  conversive;  apodosis, 
imperfect.  Num.  23:20;  Lev.  19:19  (interrogative); 
Ex.  3:13  (?). 

1.  Protasis,  perfect  plus  Wau  conversive;  apodosis, 
a  nominal  sentence.     Ps.  37:10. 

3.  (1)  Protasis,  a  nominal  clause;  apodosis  a  per- 
fect.    Jud.  6:13   (question). 

(2)  Protasis,  a  nominal  clause ;  apodosis,  an  im- 
perfect or  imperative.  Is.  48:13;  2  K.  10:15;  2  Sam. 
19:8. 

(3)  Protasis,  a  nominal  clause;  apodosis,  perfect 
plus  Wau  conversive.     2  K.  7  :g. 

Rem.  1. — An  adverbial  accusative  may  constitute  a 
protasis.     Ex.  16:6;  17:4. 


55 

Rem.  2. — Instead  of  the  nominal  sentence,  there 
may  be  a  participle  placed  absolutely  as  a  protasis. 
The  participle  may  have  the  relative  article,  as  in 
2  Sam.  14:10;  Ex.  9:20,  or  it  may  be  in  construction 
with  a  following  noun  as  in  Ex.  21  :i2;  or  it  may  be 
preceded  by  kol  and  take  the  article,  as  in  Num.  21 :8; 
or  preceded  by  kol  and  be  in  construction  with  an 
indefinite  noun  as  in  Num.  35  :3c 

With  such  protasis,  the  apodosis  may  be, 

1.  An  imperfect.  Gen.  4:15;  9:6;  Ex.  3:13  (?); 
21:12,  15,  16;  Num.  35:30. 

2.  An  imperfect  plus  Wau  conjunctive.  Prov. 
23:24  (?). 

3.  A  perfect  plus  Wau  conversive.  Ex.  12:15; 
Num.  21  :8;  Isa.  2  -.13. 

Rem.  3. — The  relative,  or  interrogative,  pronoun, 
or  both  combined,  may  constitute  a  protasis  of  a 
conditional  sentence.  (1)  Judge  1:12;  (2)  Ex.  24: 
14;  Deut.  20:5,  6,  7;  (3)  Ex.  32:33;  2  Sam.  20:11. 

Rem.  4. — Wau  followed  by  the  negative  lo'  may 
serve  as  a  protasis.     2  Sam.  13:26;  2  K.  5:17. 

§  23. — Order  of  Words  in   Sentences. 

Ewald  306-315;  Mueller  130-132;  Davidson  no, 
in;  Driver  208,  135;  Harper  38;  Ges.  142. 

I.  Order  of  words  in  the  nominal  sentence. 

1.  Commonly  in  all  kinds  of  nominal  sentences, 
and  always  in  circumstantial  sentences,  the  order  is 


66 

Subject — Predicate.  This  is  true,  whether  the  pred- 
icate be  a  noun  (Gen.  13:10)  ;  an  adjective  (Gen.  2: 
12);  a  participle  (Gen.  1:2);  an  adverb  (Num.  14: 
43)  ;  a  prepositional  clause  (Gen.  12:6)  ;  an  infinitive 
construct  (Is.  307);  or  a  pronoun  (Gen.  27:21; 
Deut.  12:8). 

Rem.  1. — The  predicate  must  precede,  when  it  is 
emphatic.  Ju.  18:29;  Ex.  2:2;  3:6;  Gen.  45:6; 
18:14. 

Rem.  2. — The  predicate  must  precede,  when  it  is 
an  interrogative  pronoun  or  an  interrogative  adverb. 
Gen.  4:9;  24  :65. 

Rem.  3. — The  predicate  may  precede. 

(1)  When  the  subject  is  a  pronoun.  Gen.  3:19; 
Ex.  2:2;  Gen.  30:1 ;  44:10;  26:24. 

(2)  When  the  subject  consists  of  several  words. 
Ex.  6:14,  15;  2  Ki.  20:19;  Deut.  28:4;  Num.  13:22; 

33=9- 

(3)  In  questions.  1  Sam.  16:4;  Nnm.  14:3;  2 
Sam.  10:3;  Gen.  31:14. 

Rem.  4. — In  relative  sentences,  adverbs  and  pre- 
positional phrases  may  precede,  in  which  case  they 
are  commonly  joined  with  the  relative  by  means  of 
Makkeph.     Gen.  2:11;  1:29. 

2.  I*  the  sentence  has  several  subjects  or  predi- 
cates, they  generally  stand  together  (Gen.  10:2,  3; 
T3  ^3)  \  though  there  are  cases,  especially  in  poetry, 
where  several  subjects  inclose  the  predicate,  or  where 


57 

several  predicates  inclose  the  subject.     Amos.  5:20; 
Prov.  8:18;  Ps.  147:5,  6. 

3.  In  poetry,  the  order  of  words  is  freer.  Especi- 
ally favored  is  the  chiastic  order,  according  to  which 
the  predicate  precedes  the  subject  in  one  clause  of 
the  parallelism  and  follows  it  in  the  order.  Gen.  49 : 
5,  7,  8,  9,  14,  20,  21,  22,  27,  28,  29,  32.  (For  the  best 
treatment  of  the  order  of  words  in  the  nominal  sen- 
tence, see  the  article  by  C.  Albrecht  in  the  Zeitschrift 
fuer  alt — testamentliche  Wissenschaft.  Vol.  VII., 
pp.  218-224.) 

II.  Order  of  words  in  the  verbal  sentence. 

1.  V  (verb)  S.  O.  Gen.  1  :i.  This  is  the  usual 
order. 

2.  V.  O.  S.  Gen.  21:7;  Num.  5:23;  19:7.  Ac- 
cording to  Ewald,  this  emphasizes  the  subject,  but 
seldom  occurs. 

3.  O.  V.  S.  Gen.  14:21 ;  21 :6;  30:40.  This  empha- 
sizes the  object. 

III.  Order  of  words  in  the  compound  nominal  sen- 
tence. 

1.  S.  V.  O.  Subject  is  emphatic  according  to  § 
20  -.3.    Gen.  1 :2 ;  24 :56 ;  44  '.4. 

2.  S.  O.  V.  Subject  new  or  antithetic,  according 
to  20:3  (1),  (2)  and  object  emphatic  as  in  3  above. 
Gen.  17:9;  23:6;  Lev.  21:10,  13;  26:8. 


58 

3.  O.  S.  V.  Is.  5:17;  28:17;  Jer.  34:5.  This  em- 
phasizes the  object  and  contrasts  the  subject  accord- 
ing to  20:3  (1),  (2). 

§  24. — Connection  of  Sentences  and  Paragraphs. 

Driver  66-85,  105-129;  Davidson  46-57;  Harper 
24,  25;  Mueller  16-28;  Ewald  230-238,  342-344;  Ges- 
enius  in,  112. 

A  narrative,  or  a  new  step  in  a  narrative,  or  a 
quotation,  begins : 

1.  With  a  perfect;  in  which  case,  it  is  continued 
by  imperfects  with  Wau  conversive.  Gen.  1:1;  3:1; 
4:1;  5:2;  6:9;  10:9,  15;  11:27;  I5:i- 

Rem.  1. — The  first  of  two  imperfects  with  Wau 
conversive  serves  as  an  adverbial  clause  to  the  sec- 
ond.    Gen.  28:8;  37:21. 

Rem  .2. — The  second  of  two  imperfects  with  Wau 
conversive  is  sometimes  explicative  of  the  first.  Ex. 
2:10. 

Rem.  3. — If  a  subordinate  clause  begins  with  a 
perfect,  it  is  continued  with  imperfects  with  Wau 
conversive.     Gen.  17:1;  Deut.  4:37. 

Rem.  4. — A  perfect  may  be  followed  by  a  perfect 
with  Wau  conversive,  the  latter  being  used  in  a  figu- 
rative sense.  Gen.  17:3;  Num.  11:8;  or  even  to  de- 
note result.     Gen.  26:10. 

2.  With  an  imperfect  with  Wau  conversive ;  in 
which  case,  it  is  continued: 


59 

(i)  By  imperfects  with  Wau  conversive.  Gen. 
11:16,  18,  20,  22,  24,  26;  12:1;  14:1;  Esther  1:1; 
Neh.  1  :i. 

(2)  By  Wau  separated  from  the  perfect.  Gen. 
7  :io;  15  :i2  (?)  ;  22:1 ;  21 :22. 

(3)  By  a  perfect  without  Wau.  Gen.  8:13;  14: 
1,  2. 

(4)  By  a  perfect  with  Wau  conversive,  the  latter 
being  used  in  a  frequentative  sense,  or  to  denote  pur- 
pose.    Ex.  18:26;  39:3;  2  Sam.  16:13. 

(5)  By  a  nominal  sentence  without  Wau.  Gen. 
41:1. 

3.  With  an  imperfect;  in  which  case,  it  is  con- 
tinued by  perfects  with  Wau  conversive.  Gen.  6:14; 
12:3;  40:13- 

Note. — To  the  rule,  that  in  the  perfect  with  Wau 
conversive,  the  accent  is  thrown  from  the  penult  to 
the  ultimate  (Ex.  13:10;  18:25;  Num.  11  :i;  17; 
Deut.  27:3)  there  are  the  following  exceptions.  (See 
Driver  no;  Ges.  49:3)  ; 

1.  The  first  plural  of  all  verbs.  Gen.  34:16,  17; 
44 :26. 

2.  Generally,  the  Kal  of  verbs  Lomadh-Aleph  and 
Lomadh-He;  except  when  followed  by  Aleph  or 
Ayin.  Gen.  18:26;  Ex.  21:7;  Lev.  26:9;  Deut.  4:9; 
but  1  Sam.  10:2;  Ecc.  2:17;  and  before  Aleph  and 
Ayin,  Ex.  3:18;  Lev.  24:5;  2  Sam.  15:33. 


60 

3.  Often  the  third  feminine  singular  and  the  third 
plural  of  the  Kal  and  Niphal  of  Ayin  Wau  and  Ayin 
Ayin  verbs.  Gen.  41:30;  Ex.  13:17;  Lev.  25:35;  but 
Lev.  22:13. 

4.  A  perfect,  without  a  disjunctive  accent,  followed 
by  a  tone  syllable  in  the  following  word.  Deut.  17: 
14;  23:13;  but  21  :n  ;  24:19. 

5.  In  pause.     Deut.  11:16;  2:28. 

(See  on  this  subject,  Driver  no;  Green  100:2; 
Ges.  49:3.) 

Rem.  1. — Instead  of  the  imperfect,  there  may  be  a 
prophetic  perfect.  Gen.  9:13;  17:20;  Nnm.  24:17; 
Deut.  15 :6.  A  prophetic  perfect  may  also  be  fol- 
lowed by  Wau  conversive  with  the  imperfect.  Is. 
9:5;  5:25. 

Rem.  2. — Instead  of  an  imperfect,  there  may  be  an 
imperative,  jussive,  or  cohortative;  or  an  infinitive 
absolute  used  for  the  imperfect  or  imperative.  Lev. 
2:6;  Num.  25:17;  Deut.  1:16;  Lev.  6:7;  Gen.  8:17; 
6:14;  1:14;  Ex.  5:7. 

Rem.  3. — An  imperfect  with  the  frequentative 
sense  may  be  followed  by  an  imperfect  with  Wau 
conversive  summing  up  the  completed  acts.  Deut. 
32:13,  18;  Num.  9:23. 

Rem.  4. — In  subordinate  clauses,  also,  an  imperfect, 
is  followed  by  the  perfect  with  Wau  conversive. 
Gen.  32:12;  Deut.  19:10;  6:15. 


61 

4.  With  a  compound  nominal  sentence;  in  which 
case,  (i)  where  the  sentence  states  a  fact  that  has 
occurred,  the  second  and  following  verbs  are  in  the 
imperfect  with  Wau  conversive.     Gen.  16:1;   11:12. 

(2)  Where  the  sentence  refers  to  something  in- 
definite, the  second  and  following  verbs  are  perfect 
with  Wau  conversive.     Gen.  16:17;  18:18. 

5.  With  a  simple  nominal  sentence;  in  which  case 

(1)  If  the  sentence  refers  to  an  actual  event,  it  is 
continued  by  the  imperfect  with  Wau  conversive. 
Gen.  41:1-3;  Num.  22:11. 

(2)  If  the  sentence  refers  to  something  "indefinite 
or  undetermined,"  or  future,  it  is  continued  by  per- 
fects with  Wau  conversive.  Gen.  7:4;  16:11;  24:43 
seq. ;  48:4;  Deut.  32:35- 

Rem.  1. — Sometimes  the  mere  statement  of  a  fact 
is  followed  by  perfects  with  Wau  conversive.  Gen. 
17:4;  Ex.  6:6;  Num.  4:4;  Deut.  6:5. 

Rem.  2. — The  noun  absolute  (see  §  n)  may  be 
followed  by  Wau  conversive  with  the  imperfect. 
Gen.  22 :24 ;  Ex.  38 :24 ;  Num.  14  :^6.  So  also  by 
Wau  conversive  with  the  perfect.     Gen.  17:14. 

Rem.  3. — An  infinitive  construct  with  a  preposi- 
tion may  be  followed  by  the  perfect  with  Wau  con- 
versive.    Gen.  18:25;  27:45. 

Less  frequently  it  is  followed  by  an  imperfect  with 
Wau  conversive.     Is.  30:12;  Jer.  10:13. 


62 

Note. — A  preposition  with  a  noun  may  take  the 
place  of  an  infinitive.     Deut.  4 .30. 

Rem.  4. — After  various  expressions  for  time,  Wau 
conversive  is  employed  (1)  with  the  imperfect. 
Gen.  22:4;  27:34. 

(2)  With  the  perfect  to  denote  something  future. 
Deut.  4:30;  Joel  4:1,  2. 

§  25. — Notes  of  Relation  or  Connection. 
Ges.  15;  Green  28-42;  Duin  86-104. 
The  relation  existing  between  the  words  of  a  sen- 
tence, is  in  Hebrew  denoted  by  certain  signs,  called 
accents.  See  the  grammars  under  the  articles  on  ac- 
cents, especially  Ewald  364-366  and  "Outlines  of 
Hebrew  Accentuation,"  by  Dr.  A.  B.  Davidson. 

APPENDIX. 

Force  of  the  Different  Stems. 
Ges.  43,  51-54;  Green  76-80. 
1.  (1)  The  Kal  in  a'  is  usually  transitive.    Gen.  1:1; 

4:25. 

(2)  But  sometimes  is  intransitive.  Gen.  18:11; 
26:13. 

(3)  The  Kal  in  e  and  6  is  always  intransitive. 
Gen.  27:1;  Lev.  11:25;  Gen.  45:1. 

(4)  The  Kal  is  used,  also,  to  form  denominatives. 
Ex.  2:3;  Lev.  2:13. 


63 

2.  The  Niphal  has  the  following  significations: 
(i)  Reflexive.  Gen.  24:6;  Num.  5:13. 

(2)  Reciprocal.     Mai.  3:16;  1  Chr.  30:23. 

(3)  Like  the  Greek  middle  it  involves  in  itself  the 
meaning  of  Kal  plus  "for  oneself."     1   Sam.   20:6. 

(4)  Passive  of  Kal.     Deut.  10:6;  Gen.  21:3. 

(5)  In  intransitive  verbs,  or  where  the  Kal  does 
not  occur  the  Niphal  is  used  as  the  passive  of 
the  Hiphil  and  Piel.     Ex.  14:4;  9:15. 

3.  The  Peil. 

(1)  Gives  intensity  to  the  meaning  of  the  Kal,  both 
(a)  as  an  intransitive,  Gen.  39:17;  Is.  51:13;  Ecc  12 
3,  and  (b)  as  a  transitive.  Num.  33:4;  Is.  10:1;  Ps. 
109:10  Prov.  13  :2i. 

(2)  Is  used  as  a  transitive  of  an  intransitive  Kal. 
Gen.  7:3;  Num.  33:52;  Deut.  4:5. 

(3)  May  sometimes  in  the  same  root  have  an  in- 
transitive meaning  at  one  time  and  a  transitive  accu- 
sative at  another,  Gen.  13:10;  Ex.  32:7;  Ezek.  36:8; 
Is.  46:13- 

(4)  Often  declares  or  deems  a  thing  to  be  that 
which  the  simple  stem  denotes.  Deut.  S3  -6  '>  Ex.  20 : 
7!  Job  33:32  (Vulg.  te  apparere  justum). 

(5)  Denominatives  are  frequently  formed  by  this 
root  in  the  sense 

(a)  Of  forming  or  making  use  of  the  thing  de- 
noted by  the  noun.  Ps.  104:17;  Gen.  9:14;  Deut. 
I9:3- 


64 

(b)  Or  of  taking  away,  or  injuring,  the  thing  de- 
noted by  the  noun  (the  privative  sense).  Is.  5:2; 
Nu.  24:8;  Ps.  51 :8;  52:7. 

(See  Wright:  Arabic  Grammar.     Vol.  II.,  p.  32.) 
4.  The  Hiphil. 

(1)  Is  used  as  a  transitive  or  causative  of  an  in- 
transitive Kal.     Num.  3:13;  Gen.  14:18. 

(2)  As  the  causative  of  a  transitive  Kal.  Gen. 
29:10;  41 :28. 

(3)  It  declares  or  represents  a  thing  to  be  that 
which  the  verb  denotes.  (See  Wright:  Arabic 
Grammar,  Vol.  I,  §§  36-72.)     Deut.  25:1;  Ex.  22:8. 

(4)  It  expresses  the  obtaining  or  receiving  of  an 
abstract  quality,  such  as  length,  sweetness,  color,  etc. 
Deut.  25:15;  Ps.  35:i5;  Is.  1:18. 

(5)  It  declares  that  the  subject  acts  as  one  pos- 
sessed of  the  abstract  quality  denoted  by  the  root. 
Deut.  29  :8 ;  4  -.2$. 

(6)  It  expresses  the  entering  into  or  being  in  a 
certain  condition.  Is.  57:20;  Gen.  35:17;  Neh.  3: 
20  (?). 

(7)  It  forms  denominatives, 

(a)  In  the  sense  of  bearing,  getting,  producing, 
or  becoming  that  which  is  denoted  by  the  noun.  Ps. 
69:30;  Gen.  1:11;  Neh.  9:25;  Job  5:3. 

(b)  In  certain  unclassified  uses.  Gen.  13:9;  Deut. 
1:45;  Prov.  30:10;  Gen.  19:2;  1  Sam.  17:16. 


65 

5.  The  Hithpael  is  used : 

(i)  As  reflexive  of  the  transitive  meaning  of  the 
Piel.  Lev.  11:44;  Gen.  44:16;  Deut.  29:18;  Is.  65: 
16;  Jer.  4:2  (?). 

(2)  As  reflexive  of  the  Kal,  often  not  to  be  dis- 
tinguished in  meaning  from  the  Kal.  Gen.  37 134. 
Compare  Amos  8:8. 

(3)  To  show  or  make  or  deem  oneself  to  be  that 
which  is  denoted  by  the  Piel  stem.  Num.  16:13; 
Ezek.  38:23;  Est.  8:17. 

(4)  To  express  reciprocal  actions.  Gen.  42:1;  2 
Chr.  24:25. 

(5)  Like  the  Greek  Middle,  to  express  an  action 
performed  for  one's  own  advantage.  Ex.  32 :3 ; 
Jos.  9:12;  Is.  1  :i5. 

(6)  In  a  few  instances  as  a  passive.  Ecc.  8:10; 
1  Sam.  3:14;  Job  15:28;  Gen.  22:18  (?);  26:4  (?); 
Ps.  72:17. 


